Gap Picks (Early Fall 2012)

Quite a few of you have asked me about my Gap favorites since I started working there. The past couple of years have been a re-vamp of the company, and I am excited to watch the changes first hand. There is tons of new merchandise coming in constantly right now, and I am watching some cute stuff hit the floor.
Here are my picks for Fall.

Dot pullover sweater

This sweater is coming in several colors, but I love this grey version. Polka dots are still hot and you can dress this one up or down.

Ponte academy blazer

Another cutie that comes in multiple colors, but this one is my favorite. I walk by it every day and think I should add that to my closet. (Must. Not. Spend. Paycheck.) It looks kinda boring in this product shot, but in real life, its beautiful and well-made.

1969 Ankle Zip Legging Jeans

This is a fantastically perfect shade of red, and the crop length helps out shorter girls who just want a regular length. The zip is not stiff, so I've even had customers cuff or roll the hem.

Calf hair loafers

All of our loafers have been attention-getting lately, but the patterned ones, especially. This is my favorite color in the patterns, but this one has been selling out too.

Perfect dot shirt

Continuing the polka dot theme, is these button-downs. Our store has sold out of all these, and continue to do charge-send's daily for them from other stores. They are light weight enough for layering, but thick enough to stand alone.

Slim cropped pants

These crops are with the career looks in our store, but I have been pulling them to go with lots of looks from all departments. I love the vibrancy of the blue, and it translates across all four seasons. I pulled them today to show a customer some options with the sweater below.

Striped Merino crew pullover

This sweater came in today in several colors, but this one is my favorite. It looks great with jeans, khaki's and colored pants as well. It is light, and perfect for layering.

Also, I can't find it available online, but if you have a store near you, check out the fragrance Near. It has the perfect lightness I look for in a perfume. I stick very closely with my Bath & Body Works White Tea & Ginger, and my perfume Dolce & Gabana's Light Blue, but this is comparable. You should check it out.

Fall Favorites 2012 (Shoes)

With hints of cool air blowing in overnight here in the Heartland, I am dreaming of boots, tights and my favorite cold weather recipes.
Now that I am working, it would be so tempting to spend more money shopping, but my husband and I are tired of renting, so I am applying a large portion of my paycheck towards our home-building fund. This means that I am very carefully editing my shopping list. Here are a few shoes I have my eye on.

Halogen® 'Manda' Flat

These come in cream as well, and since I am on my feet all day at work, I quickly realized that my collection of heels wasn't going to cut it. I have been browsing around for versatile flats to dress up jeans and pants. These look comfortable and well made, and the bow is just added cuteness. (Edit: Uh, oh! I just found this color too!)

Halogen® 'Karlie' Flat

I have had my eye on these for about a month. But since I don't have a Nordstrom, and I have never tried on anything by Halogen, I have hesitated pulling the trigger. Also, I love the black version as much as the tan, so I can't decide which I would order anyway. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Frye Paige Tall Riding

These have been on the list for about 4 years, and I just keep trying to replace them with other less expensive brands. If I would have bought them in the first place, and saved all the money I spent trying not to buy them, I would have been a happy girl. The good thing is, these are available on Piperlime, so I can use my Gap rewards towards them. The bad news? There is also something else I want to use rewards for on Piperlime....

Silver karsen women's classics

I have been sitting the fence with Tom's for years, but I think I am about to cave. I saw a coach at my daughters volleyball tournament Saturday wearing these with a funnel neck sweater, and they were adorable. Since I can't find the eyelet lace version anywhere anymore, this might be the version I go with.

What fall items are you dreaming of?

Black Friday Sale Haul

Jay and I left after the Thanksgiving festivities Thursday night and drove up to Leawood/Kansas City to spend a little time alone and shop.
I didn't sleep well all night, so I woke up without my alarm at 4:30- in plenty of time to get ready and go the 1/2 mile over to Town Center Plaza to my favorite store!  There were only about 20 of us waiting outside to get in for the 6 am opening. (A couple of them were my size, so I had an eye out!)
They opened right on time, and every one quickly headed back to the sale area. It was crowded, but everyone was very polite, and tried to be as accommodating as possible. We were in a tight squeeze, but good-natured.  Jay watched me, and took my items as my hands started getting full, then sat in a chair and waited for me to bring him stuff- my usual M.O.  I didn't have to wait for a dressing room, because an S.A. saw Jay with a full lap, and went and got a room started for me. I tried on TONS of things. Just about everything on sale- if it was my size, I tried it on.  I think I was in there for an hour.  Then I went and checked out the jewelry and got in line to pay. I only had one person in front of me, and every line was open, so it moved pretty fast.
Compared to my unpleasant experience in Denver, this was night and day. Everyone was cheery and pleasant, and I had a HUGE purchase, but the sales girl was kind and chatty.  She even engaged Jay to make sure that all of my security tags were removed, so we didn't have any mishaps with that.
We went over to the Country Club Plaza store, but as expected, they didn't have very much to chose from. The new Leawood store has a bigger selection, and the staff is more pleasant. I used my birthday discount only on candles, since everything else I got was on sale.
Here is what I brought home (edit- I forgot a few tops. I got the Twisted Ascot in all 4 colors. $15 per shirt):

Black Friday Haul 1 by modernmomx4 featuring dangling jewelry

Black Friday Haul 2 by modernmomx4 featuring beach tops

Black Friday- Bottoms & Dresses by modernmomx4 featuring a chemise dress

I know it's a lot, but I figured at these prices, I should get whatever I might possible use, and check it all at home. I don't have a store close, so I can't just run up there on a whim.
I also went to DSW and got these:

Audrey Brooke boots (see more knee high leather boots)
I exchanged a pair of boots I had ordered online, and got these instead. I love them!
Did you do any big Black Friday shopping? What did you score?