misosouper, a shopping blog

I’m a little (OK, a lot) in love with these glasses, in part because they are the “Anna” style. J Crew and Selima realized, after years of puffing on my part, that almost everyone, skin toned from dark to light, looks better in glasses that are *not* black. Colors more on the brown/green spectrum are more universally flattering. (I’ve worn glasses for 15 years, and have tested this theory with 15 different hair colors.)

So they decided to name these after me. Thank god someone finally listened.

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Yup, this shirt is from the Gap. Way to go, Patrick Robinson!

As my husband recently said, “These clothes aren’t nearly as ugly as they used to be.”

In order to wear this necklace, you must be confident, and a little bit crazy. You know, to withstand all the inevitable “look! she’s wearing an octopus!” comments.

So this summer, if you see a girl with eight arms dangling around her neck, come say hello. I’m one of the few people you’ll ever meet who can say “octopussy” with a straight face.

Although I spent last Wednesday’s post extolling the virtues of the Birkenstock, I remained unsatisfied. I was, after all, extolling the virtues of the Birkenstock. Questions remained: Birkenstocks? Really? Was that the best I could do? Could my husband’s dirty vegan hippie jokes actually be true? Worst of all, were the Birkenstocks a lazy choice, evidence that my shopping skills were beginning to mold?

So back to Zappos I went, determined to do better. These non-Birkenstocks meet my earlier criteria: metallic, comfy, relatively cheap, gladiator-esque. They arrived on Saturday, thanks to Zappos’ badass shipping, thus ending the Birkenstock curse. While I’m a dirty vegan hippie on the inside, my feet don’t have to show it.

(Yes, these are the same shoes featured in the Anthropologie catalog, except in a different color and inexplicably renamed “Coachella Valley Thongs.” Anthropologie doesn’t reveal their brand, but that’s why you have me, right?)

I’ve been into the whole gladiator summer sandal thing for a few years now, so much so that my original gold pair has staged a protest and fled screaming from my closet, refusing to participate in another summer of wear and tear.

While I love the look of a flat metallic shoe, I do not love the fact that said shoes usually have no support, and occasionally constrict big toes in a vise-like grip that causes what I affectionately term the “jiffy toe ring.”

So I’ve been on the hunt for a comfy pair of glads that are:

a. metallic, preferably gold

b. cushy enough to stand up to an entire day of summer sightseeing

c. not $350 (Oh lord but do I love this pair! Please let them fall down from heaven into my closet tonight. Amen.)

Here’s my (surprising) pick: Birkenstocks. Yeah, go ahead and scoff, but these bronzey gladiator thongs will walk you through this summer, and the next, with change in your pocket. You’ll laugh at all the feebs who spent twice as much to be half as comfortable.

T-shirt dresses in peppy colors are summer perfect, dressed down with slinky sandals, or up with ropey wedges.

And what’s more perfect than snagging a dress this cute, at 75% off?

A few years ago, I stumbled upon Alice’s site The Carrotbox while trying to replace a beloved jade flea market ring. I scored my ring, then another in Murano glass, and another in regular glass, and another in plastic…

She’s got a lot of goodies, and I’m particularly tempted because I only wear non-metal jewels on my right hand. (Curious, I know. But I like the juxtaposition of delicate wedding band on left hand, and chunky fun ring on the right. Not that wedding rings aren’t fun. But I digress.)

Like this wooden gem: so sculptural and low profile. She’s got limited quantities, so you better beat me there.

As I was poking around my local Anthropologie last week, I sidled up next to a girl wearing a yellow cami-grey skinny jean ensemble, finished off with a pair of impossibly chic printed flats. Because she dangled a Neiman’s bag from her finger, I assumed the shoes were too spendy for my feet, and let her go without as much as a compliment. After I got home, some internet sleuthing revealed that her shoes were from Target. So I salute you, unnamed shopping buddy with great taste: you’re not only chic but cheap, a girl after my own heart.

This weekend’s WSJ article on American Apparel produced my usual reaction to Dov Charney: I want to clap for him, then throw up.

Instead, I bought a shirt. (I believe that’s what you might call scruples.)

As far as tank tops go, this tri-blend racerback version reigns supreme: it really is as soft, non-clingy, and comfortable as advertised. You’ll also get to enjoy one of my favorite AA experiences: snickering at the product reviews that begin, “I’m a 32G but this top isn’t too tight…” or “I’m 5′4, 95 lbs, and while I was worried this would be too big…” (Because I’m also a member of the 32G-5′4″-95lb club, I’m allowed to mock, OK?)

Like I said, it’s all about the scruples.

*Woot! Misosouper is live again after a week of WordPress difficulties that have since been resolved. (Thanks, BlueHost and Derek!)

I missed you, and I hope you missed me too.

I confess that I don’t understand the logic of ninja socks, beyond the fact that they are designed to fit into ninja boots. But if they propel me through the spider walk to Ninja Warrior heaven, then I’ll rock them everyday.

*Note: also useful for wearing with flip-flops to tourist destinations.