Friday, July 4, 2025

Having Your Cake and Feeting it Too: Going Fourth With Cute, Comfy Footwear

Top and skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: Madden Girl, Kohl's

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's


Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Socks: Zulily
\
Skirt and shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: Amazon


Bow: A New Day, Target

Forget flag cakes and fireworks (but not really -- you know how I feel about cake.)  This Fourth of July, I'm declaring my independence from uncomfortable footwear.  Which is why I started wearing my memory foam-padded LC Lauren Conrad pumps and sandals to work this week.  Now, before I go on, please know that this isn't a paid partnership post.  Although if you're listening, Lauren-slash-Kohl's, then I wouldn't be at all opposed to such an arrangement.  Because your shoes really are cute and comfy, even the heels, and I had a splendid time wearing them.  I'd be lying if I said that I'm not excited about a new category of things to wear and collect.

That said, Fourth of July may be over soon, but the weekend's just getting started.  So I'll be back with reports of more festive fits.  

And hopefully star-spangled cake.         

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Wedge Pledge: On the Pink of Possibility

Dress: Nine West, Kohl's

Bag: Zulily

Rose: Hobby Lobby

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Top: Nine West, Kohl's


Bag: BCBGeneration, DSW

Sunglasses: Betsey Johnson, Zulily

Unicorn: Target

Years ago, I read a magazine article proclaiming pink to be the most versatile color.  According to the writer, the hue is simultaneously retro, tropical, and futuristic.  I loved that, easily picturing sweater sets, hibiscus blooms, and cyberpunk minis in the Day-Glo shade.  Because pink makes anything seem possible.  And when it's turned up to its full, look-at-me wattage, it's especially hard to resist.

So I thought of that when I wore these fits.  And it put a little spring in my step.  Well, except for when I strapped my wedges too tightly and suffered an excruciating commute.  Now I'm in pursuit of shoes that don't mangle my metatarsals.    

But that, ahem, misstep aside, it was was a feel-good fashion kind of day. 

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Fun Finds Rewind: Subconsciously Stuck in the '80s

Jacket: Crayola for Kohl's

Top: Madden Girl, Macy's


Pink clip: Wild Fable, Target; Blue clip: Kate Spade New York for Target

Bag: Marshalls

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: Dolls Kill


Shoes: Mix No. 6, DSW; Socks: Amazon

Sunglasses and bow: Wild Fable, Target

It might seem like no coincidence that I'm sporting a top with an 82 and a bag with the Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake.  Because I was born in 1982, and '80s babies love the Bears and the Berries.  But I wore these fits weeks apart, then put them together based on their colors.  A pop culture coup it wasn't, just a byproduct of my subconscious.  A subconscious which is, admittedly, nostalgia-and-rainbow-soaked and all of the things.

So I guess it's true what they say after all.  There are no accidents. 

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Red Letter, Yellow Leather: Summer in Stages

Skirt: A New Day, Target

Necklace: INC, Macy's; Strawberry clip: Kate Spade New York for Target

Bag: Princess Vera, Kohl's

Top: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Dress: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney

Shoes: Betsey Johnson, DSW

Bag: Kate Spade New York for Target

Top: New York & Company

Bag: Sugar Thrillz, Dolls Kill

Shoes: Nine West, Amazon

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: Kenneth Cole Reaction, Gifted


Shoes: Christian Siriano for Payless

This post isn't about public speaking prep.  Nor am I wearing leather.  But I am wearing red and yellow and layers, which in summer amounts to around the same thing.

Of course, now that it's officially summer, we're that much closer to summer fits on The Tote Trove timeline.  

Because with all the schlepping and shopping and, yes, oversharing, things move a little more slowly here. 😏

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Bright Here, Bright Now: There's No Other Place I Want to Twee

Top: CeCe, Macy's

Bag: Luv Betsey

Dress (plaid): ELLE, Kohl's

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Top: New York & Company

Sweater: On 34th, Macy's

Bag: Harajuku Lovers, Ross

Necklace: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Shoes: Mix No. 6, DSW

Because puns are fun and there's no pun that's as fun as a pun that's a song.  

These fits are from some weeks ago, back when you could wear tights and/or a short-sleeved sweater without feeling like a nun at the beach.  There'll be more of this before we get into proper (or rather, improper) summer style.     

But that's okay.  Because right here, right now I'm living in the moment. 

Even if that moment was a month ago.