The Style Engineer: November 2011

I recently got a lovely little gift card in the mail from T.J.Maxx to go and go crazy in one of their stores! Just kidding, that's not actually what it was for. Or was it? Thanks to CollegeFashionista and T.J.Maxx I was bequeathed $50.00 whole dollars to spend. True to form, I spent more. And I spent more than 2 hours in the place- I mean, it was super overwhelming (I, clearly, had never been before, otherwise I probably would have been better prepared). Then I got to write all about it for CollegeFashionista. I figured I'd share! And if you don't feel like reading, then just look at the pretty pictures.

Me! In My purchase! It was wrinkly, yeah, sorry, I'm human, it's New York, we wear jackets, that we take off when photographing our shirts. I also did not accessorize in fear of taking the focus away from this ~~grape~~ raisin I am wearing.

A gift I got for a friend

I gift I got for a (boy)friend.

Sorry for ruining the surprise of your presents, guys.

No, I am not a size 8.5 Any presents, please send in a 9.5 or 10.

Oh. Yes.

Yeah, that's some Missoni that you are seeing right there.

It’s that time of year again, Fashionistas! As much as you may not want to think about it yet (I know, I know, Thanksgiving hasn’t even passed yet) it is time to start getting your holidays gifts ready! As a college student, gift giving can sometimes be tough, especially if you’re on a budget. However, there is a simple solution for that, and that simple solution is called TJ Maxx and Marshalls!

For those of you who have never been, TJ Maxx and Marshalls offers department store items at up to 60% off. I confess, I had never been to TJ Maxx until recently, but I was blown away with the selection of merchandise they had. I’m talking shoes from Miu Miu, Dolce and Gabbana, YSL, and Frye. Clothing from Missoni, Alice and Olivia, Marc Jacobs, Joie, and Michael Kors. You name it, they have it (including designer denim!) There were handbags galore and enough winter accessories to keep you and your children and grandchildren warm for years. In short, I was blown away. The only hard part of my experience was trying to decide which gifts to buy!

I was there to purchase three gifts- one for one of my Fashionista friends, one for a Fashionisto, and, of course, one for myself (I really can’t go shopping without buying something for myself, sorry parents) I began with the hardest first- the Fashionisto. In my opinion, men are the hardest to shop for (although I know they say the opposite about us). So I usually stick to one of three things: a general accessory such as a beanie or scarf, a tech accessory, or some new PJ’s. I have found that ~~boys~~ ~~guys~~ men really love the new pajamas, either because they never buy them for themselves, or they just don’t realize how essential they are until they get a new pair. Of course, PJ’s are on the more difficult end, since you need to know their size. This is one of the reasons why I stay away from buying clothing, that and the fact that a lot of Fashionistos I know are extremely particular about their clothing. My brother, for one, has a list of things he won’t wear so long that reading even halfway through it could make your eyes hurt for a few weeks. Another option is a tech accessory- something like new headphones, an IPod dock or speakers. Luckily, TJ Maxx had quite a nice selection of things like that. I ended up, however, getting a beanie for my Fashionisto. It will be perfect in the upcoming snowy days, and, since it doesn’t require knowing a size, will make a great gift.

For my fashionable Fashionista friends, I usually stick with some kind of accessory (again), since knowing sizes and styles can be hard, and are so subjective. Jewelry makes a great gift, as do handbags, wallets, clutches, and other accessories such as scarves, hats, or gloves. No, these aren't stereotypical at all. However, one of my favorite things to give are beauty products, especially if they come in sets, and especially when those sets are holiday themed, like the Philosophy Peppermint bark box I got. It is something any Fashionista would love, provided she loves bathing.

Of course, no shopping trip is complete without a purchase for myself! I walked away with a really great, really versatile purple silk button down from DKNY, which will look great during the holiday season and beyond. I plan to dress mine up with fun jewelry, dark jeans, and either cute flats or heels for a Holiday party, or to wear it with a great scarf, jeans, and boots during the day.

And the best part, Fashionistas? My total was only $59.12. Only $9.12 over my limit, which, for me, is quite a victory.