help me find mid-priced denim

i have a problem.

a big one.

i have been searching high and low for mid-priced jeans that aren't too skinny and aren't too wide. like straight-up stovepipe. not hugging my calf nor too flared or bootleg. not too cheap but not too expensive. and i can't find them.

i started with gap, trying on every style in every size and color. always skinny, $69.50 / real straight $69.50

next i went to the matchsticks from j.crew ($98), but i'm not sold. they're way too long (even the short sizes) and i hate hemming jeans because they never look the same.

then i went to anthropologie (i have a gift card, woot!) and tried on every single pair they had in store. every. single. pair. again, either too skinny or too wide. ag colette bootcut, $168 / ag stevie, $168 / joe's muse, $158



and now i'm waiting for these to arrive from ann taylor although i think they'll be too skinny. (i think the outfit is so cute, btw) - $88 plus 40% coupon EXTRA40

these *might* be good, but it's so hard to tell from the shoddy fitting on the model (really, loft, really?!), $59.50 plus 40% with code EXTRA.

if you were me, where would you turn next? i really don't want to pay more than $100 but i just might have to...and is it a pipe dream? are there no straight leg jeans for less than a benjamin out there anymore?

oooooooooooooor maybe i'm not cut out for straight stovepipe jeans. maybe it's all in my head. just maybe.

ps. can't wait for my cousin katy to arrive!!! she gets in tonight and we have so much to catch up on. can't wait can't wait.

sequin it up with gap's holiday lookbook

gap's holiday lookbook is awwwwweeeesome. i ordered up this sequin skirt ($49.50) last night after accidentally stumbling upon a 25% off discount code (ok, it was advertised on their home page). sorry to report that the coupon only lasted through last night - but i'm sure another one will pop up soon. it's friends and family season so that might be entering our inboxes within the next few weeks.

outfit in action: nude heeling

lc lauren conrad top from kohls, gap boyfriend jeans, banana republic stacked heels

don't be fooled by the fall-ish outfit i'm wearing in these photos. the weather here in austin is still a crisp 90+ every day. however, my new office is SO.FREAKIN'.COLD. i leave work every night and practically turn on the heat in my car that's already been sitting out in the sun all day...just to thaw out.

anyway...happy monday!

outfit in action: panama sunshine

my new(ish) gap boyfriend jeans are by far my latest wardrobe staple. so comfortable and versatile - and only $25. i rocked my j.crew panama hat for a little while, too...this is my best michael jackson pose.

gap boyfriend jeans, vince tank, dolce vita able sandals, banana republic necklace, j.crew panama hat

btw, so long to indoor-only photos soon...we're inching closer and closer to closing on the house and i can't wait to take outfit photos out and about our new abode.

gap's jeans do it again

gap has done it again with another great pair of jeans. i saw these in an ad in this month's lucky mag and immediately went online to get the story. they don't seem to be available online for purchase yet, but i have the feeling they're out there somewhere. the gap 1969 website says they became available july 6, and i fully intend to keep my eyes open for where and when i can buy. let me know if you see them anywhere!

wow, it's already july?

time sure does fly when you live in austin and travel all over the country. nick and i have been traveling fools lately and it's been a really fun couple of months. we have quite a few more trips planned for the rest of the summer and fall and i'll be posting about my shopping exploits here, there and everywhere in between, i promise. here are a few shots from our recent whirlwinds...

below: chicago a few weeks ago...wrigley field. was so hungover. wearing club monaco tank, ny&co shorts, ray-ban new wayfarers, forever21 necklace, dolce vita sandals, marc jacobs bag.

below: awesome clouds from the plane to charleston

below: at vickery's for dinner in charleston. wearing victoria's secret romper, ray-ban new wayfarers, h&m bag, dolce vita sandals.

below: my sis at vickery's. rocking my new banana republic necklace.

below: me and nick waiting for the fireworks on july 4th. wearing forever 21 top, gap belt, gap boyfriend jeans...and not a stitch of makeup. don't judge.

summer denim days

i accidentally went on a denim shopping spree on gap.com yesterday. i treated myself to a pair of boyfriend jeans, cropped skinny jeans and my soon-to-be-favorite-new-shorts, denim cutoffs. gap is having a huge summer sale right now and every piece of denim i ordered was under $40. hurry, sizes are running low...

below: patch and repair cutoff jeans, $49.50 marked down to $24.99

below: cropped skinny jeans, $69.50 marked down to $39.99

below: distressed boyfriend jeans, $69.50 marked down to $24.99

in the military

one of my favorite spring trends is mixing military-inspired pieces with fancier spring basics. i've been keeping an eye out for a pair of cargo pants and the gap (everyone's old standby) has theirs on sale for $30 - marked down from $59.50. pair them with a fancy top and chunky heels and you're good to go for a night on the town. or pair them with a gauzy top and flats or wedges and you're good to go for some saturday day drinking. see? they're versatile for all sorts of boozing events.

shopping in the old west...i mean...the gap

so i'm totally into some of what the gap is doing these days. they definitely go through ups and downs and i'd say right now they have a few standout items that i'd spring for. here they are, in no particular order. consider them officially on my christmas list.

ps. in my experience, web inventory doesn't match store inventory. if something is sold out online give your local store a call - they may have it.

pps. card members get an extra 10% off on tuesdays.

ppps. a few coupon codes i found on the internets: "gap20" saves you $20 on $100 or more; "cheer" for 15% off sale; "freecheer" for free shipping over $50. please comment if you have a better one or if any of these work for you.

below: navajo cardigan, on sale for $49.99

below: ruffle plaid shirt, $49.50. totally digging the ruffle details on the sleeves.

below: wool blend duffle bag, on sale for $44.99. perfectly sized for all the essentials to take on a night away from home.

30% off at gap, banana, old navy (including outlets)

*update* for some reason the link to the coupon isn't working. email me if you'd like it and i will forward it to you! anniedoyle14@gmail.com



gap's give and get program starts today! for 4 days, enjoy 30% off while gap gives 5% of the amount you spend to a non-profit. i chose to send my spendings to teach for america since a family member is doing just that. click here for the coupon, only good through this sunday. enjoy!

getting in the mood for fall

i'm having a really hard time getting in the mood for fall. it's helping a bit with my bank account but it's not helping with my wardrobe - which always seems to be lacking in the fall. so i decided to put together a few outfit ideas to help me get into the spirit for new fall fashions. as you can tell i'm all about the basics (that i wear over and over again) with one or two pops of color, trendy details or interesting accessories.

i think this exercise helped because now all i want to do is go shopping...

fall outfit 1: saturday night drinks with nick
james perse top $50, anthropologie jacket $98, gap jeans $59.50, marc by marc jacobs hillier hobo bag $398, modcloth osprey headband $23.99, christian louboutin pigalle 100 stud pumps $995

fall outfit 2: day at the office
banana republic jacky pump $140, yumi kim dani dress $195, vince cardigan $275, gorjana dove necklace $70, ysl muse bag $1,395


fall outfit 3: weekend errands
delia's bomber jacket $79.50, victoria's secret cable sweater $49, rvca tank $29, so low zipper leggings $59, j.crew yellow gallery necklace $50, loeffler randall riley boots $825, coach tribeca crossbody bag $298

affordable jeans that are cute? sign me up.

update thursday 8/13: gap 1969 jeans are $20 off today and they added the style i've been waiting for: the destructed skinny jeans in medium wash. pictured here:

~~~~~~original post below~~~~~~

above: always skinny destructed button jeans - $69.50

above: cropped light wash boyfriend jeans - $69.50

above: always skinny black destructed jeans - $69.50

when my new september lucky mag came last week, i tore it right open with a flourish. and what stopped me in my tracks on the very first page? an ad for "america's best fitting premium jeans" - from the gap. hmmm, ok. you've caught my attention, gap. naturally, i went on the website to do a little perusing.

i'm loving many of the styles and my favorites are pictured above. the best part? the price tag. nothing is above $69.50, from what i see. the other best part? i hear the 1969 cuts are staying the same from season to season with the only changes being color and details (buttons, rips, etc.). so if your best friend "accidentally" steals your favorite jeans and refuses to give them back, just buy yourself a new pair.

photos from the gap.

a top, a dress or a cover-up? yes.

saw this strapless drop-waist dress in the window of gap body and went in to check it out. although its on sale on the website for $29.99, the price in-store was $20.99 and they still had all the sizes. it could work as a top, a dress or a cover-up. three for the price of one! oh, they had bathing suits to match, too - also on sale! oh, while i was in there i saw a sign for "10% tuesdays" - special for gapcard holders through september 1.