Category Archives: … at Mall Madness Monday

MMM: Maine Edition

Posted on Oct 23, 2012Written by Lindsay Scouras

2

First of all, thank you to everyone who has asked about the absence of Mall Madness Monday posts. All two of you really made me feel special that you felt there was a void in your life by missing out on pictures of things that I don’t need/can’t afford.

For those of you that have no idea what is about to happen, prepare yourselves. 

I decided to do a special edition of MMM this week in honor of Steve and my little getaway Maine trip. If you are dying to know about all the exciting things we discovered in towns like Brunswick and Bath (and let’s face it, that is at the top of your priority list) you can visit this post, and then this one too.

We actually spent quite a bit of time shopping on this trip. Now before you get all excited for me, know that it wasn’t exactly my kind of shopping. I mean there wasn’t a Forever 21 in sight. Ironically, when I finally convinced Steve to take me to the J. Crew outlet, he was the one that came out with a purchase. What a jerk. 

Here are some things I found particularly intriguing on this trip. Keep in mind that they’re all pretty much from LL Bean or a crazy antique mall.

deconstructed signs are totally in right now. steve hates when i
say stuff like that, but he really can’t get mad at me because i
learned it from all of his pawn picker antiques roadshow programs.

i may have mentioned that i’m obsessed with vintage typewriters.
also pillows.

this game is exactly what it sounds like. it’s just a series of cards
with facts about different authors & kids have to guess who it is.
how this enthralling game has ended up on the bottom shelf in
an antique mall blows my mind. i mean there is just so much fun
to be had. 

this is the one thing i actually like about antique stores: vintage
postcards. they had a bajillion of them here, all divided by states
& themes & such. somehow i spent $38 on postcards. it’s an addiction.

ugh. i died a little over this one. ll bean suede riding boots, at the
outlet, on clearance. and yet, i couldn’t convince steve to let me buy
them. it may have had something to do with the fact that i was
wearing black boots at the time, so he didn’t see the necessity. oh,
also i had packed two other pairs as well. note to self- no one will
ever buy you new boots if they had to help you pack three pairs for a
three day trip. 

steve & i are nowhere near home ownership, but we decided that
when we are, we need lamps like this for our front door. except
we both agreed that $395 is a little pricey for a single lamp.
point, marriage.

i’m not sure what occasion a boot card is appropriate for, but i find
these adorable none the less.

i want all the vintage jewels. all of them. 

no, this is not an antique. these are dice stools (or end tables?) from
the ll bean home store. obviously i need this to match my S&P shakers.

So what items did I actually cross the border with? Besides an exorbitant amount of vintage postcards, I also picked up an “L” necklace made from an old typewriter key (see? Again with the typewriters). Oh, and I may have accidentally purchased a $40 lobster charm. I’m definitely going to be paying for that one for a long time. Steve has mentioned it to me at least once a day since we’ve been home, and that was a week ago. 

~L

Published under: ... at Mall Madness Monday

MMM: Hi Ho, Anthro

Posted on Jun 27, 2012Written by Lindsay Scouras

6

This may come as a shock to all you fashion bloggers out there, but I have never bought anything from Anthropologie.

I know. I’ve been disowned, right?

Slight correction: I have physically purchased items from Anthro before. But only for gifts (I’m looking at you, Liz) and never anything for myself. Why? Well number one, I feel like it’s super expensive. Like too expensive for what it actually is. Also almost everything there looks like it came out of a flea market. I just feel like it’s lotsa buck, very little bang, you know?

Despite that, I am mildly obsessed with their merchandising. I have countless pics on my phone of their amazing window displays. I mean, the coral reef/plastic cup thing they have going on right now is AH-Mazing.

So like usual, while doing my lunch hour laps around the mall, I found myself wandering in and actually liking quite a few items. Like a lot. I found so many things I decided that this week’s Mall Madness Monday post would be Anthro-centric.

Disclaimer: I still think this stuff is pretty damn expensive. Also I’m convinced half the clothes I like will show up at Forever 21 within six months. But still, a girl can dream, right?

Disclaimer Addendum: No, you are not crazy. Well you are, but that’s besides the point. It is in fact Tuesday, not Monday as this post would suggest. I flaked on my MMM post last night and woke up panicking that all my loyal followers would be disappointed (to the four of you, my sincerest apologies). If you can believe it, I actually went to the gym after work last night and then came home and watched Mean Girls in its entirety on E! And while I loved every second of it, I was bummed with myself that I didn’t uphold the one established theme on my blog. Sorry, peeps. Let’s still be friends. 


Also, a PS: I dedicate this post to my husband, because every time I see the Anthropologie logo I think of him and laugh (which is why I am such a joy to be married to, obv). When we went to NYC a few years ago, he saw an Anthro store for the first time and ran towards it like he had found the mothership. You can understand as an anthropology major, he had very little connection to anything cool in the outside world. And finally, here was an entire store meant for someone just like him! He thought he found his place in the world when he encountered all of the shabby chic furniture that looks like I-picked-this-from-a-barn-in-Vermont-but-really-I-paid-$998-for-a-looks-like-it-was-used-but-it-really-wasn’t-dresser. And then he saw all the women’s clothes. And then he ran. 

But more importantly… the stuff.

so clearly i was drawn to this. part nautical, part little
house on the prairie. but doesn’t this look like something
that will end up at f21 for way less than $128? the tradeoff
is it’ll be about eight inches shorter. priorities.

i think this is totes adorbs, mainly because i never
realized those letters were next to each other in the
alphabet before. but i know at least three creative
crafty people that would be all like “i can make this.”
i invite them to go ahead & i volunteer to be their test
subject.

i’ve been eying this dress for some time because the color
is divine. yes, it’s a baby doll style dress, which will make
you either look like you are a baby or just carrying one.
also it’s like a super heavy brocade- worst summer dress
fabric ever. but doesn’t it just look like something our
girl elle woods would rock at a garden party? yes, she’s
still real to me. 

i almost love the books & stationary at anthro more than the
clothes. actually most of the time that’s true. as much as i love
all my techno devices, i still really love writing things on paper…
with a pencil. i call these the “anti-writer’s block” series. my
birthday is july 31, btw…
how beautiful are these cups? i mean they’re completely
impractical, but so lovely. first of all, they are baby sized.
this is what i imagine cindy lou hoo drank out of when she saw
the grinch in the middle of the night. i drink water out of the
largest container i can find- carafe, trough, whatever. these are
like, fancier dixie cups. but.so.pretty.

i am all about florals right now. just in my head, because
i don’t actually own any of this stuff in real life. i searched
high & low for inexpensive floral shorts the other day (because
let’s face it- how long is this trend really going to last for?) &
found nothing. that doesn’t mean i’m going to spring for this $118
pair, but i’m mentally pinning this pattern as we speak.
haven’t you always wanted a big old slab of petrified wood
to serve appetizers on? oops, scratch that, this isn’t actually
safe to eat off of. i still think it’s cool. although knowing steve,
he would find a way to chop up a petrified log, or petrify a log,
or whatever you have to do to make this, just so i could save the $48.
i’d imagine mary poppins would describe me “perfectly
imperfect in every way.” well, she’s probably too nice to say
that, but she might buy me this book. i’m a sucker for
anything domino-adjacent. i’m still in mourning over that one. 
these are boxes filled with postcards of old books & vanity
fair covers. i die. but also i don’t like that many people enough
to send them these & trust they won’t toss them in the garbage
can. but we should all send a few more postcards, & who
knows? maybe the world will be a better place. unless i’m the
one sending them.

i love cutesy stationary. i love it from anywhere,
papyrus to christmas tree shop. also i have a bin
full & still always feel like i need more. these
ones adorably represent four different countries!
& the girl has a scooter & a head scarf! so jealous.
So what do you think, Anthro-shoppers? Are the prices worth it? Is the store your happy place among a barrage of retailers with pushy salespeople and bad lighting? Or is the craft fair vibe just a little too much for you?

~L

Published under: ... at Mall Madness Monday

MMM: Shorter is Sweeter

Posted on Jun 19, 2012Written by Lindsay Scouras

2

This post is like the Tom Cruise of Mall Madness Monday posts- a little on the short side. 


To be honest, I was relatively uninspired with my mall surrounding this week. However, I still managed to scrounge up a few pic-worthy products for your viewing pleasure (but really, for my wish list.)

zara

i admit, this blazer looks totally old lady sofa on the hanger. but i tried
it on, & it’s pretty fabulous. of course you’d have to rock it with some
skinnies & killer heels to undowdy it up.

j crew

of course i’ve been lusting over the bubble necklace since being introduced
to the world of fashion blogs, but the latest color to debut really has me
fooled into thinking that $150 for fake jewelry is totally worth it.

forever 21

theses sort of remind me of the colored enamel kate spade bangles, &
obviously i love anything that i can pretend that it cost way more than
i actually spent on it.

victoria’s secret

clearly i’m a sucker for anything red, white & blue. so i’m excited that
with the summer olympics looming, tons of brands are featuring patriotic duds.
because nothing says “i’m cheering on my country” like sequined push up bras.


Looks like I have my work cut out for me this week. Time to hit the mall running. Until then!

~L

Published under: ... at Mall Madness Monday

MMM: Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut

Posted on Jun 12, 2012Written by Lindsay Scouras

6

I guess there’s no theme among my Mall Madness Monday pics this week, unless you count crazy as a theme. Seriously, with the influx of all the blogs I’ve been reading, I am starting to feel like my taste is all over the place. I guess on one hand it’s good, stepping outside your comfort zone (I mean, who would have ever thought that I would be interested in spiky accessories?!) but it also further illustrates my point that trendy items should never be purchased for more than $20, because let’s be real: half of this stuff I would probably shudder at six months later. 

So here it is, my slightly eclectic mix of desirables this week. I know, I need help.

steve madden via lord & taylor

so i’ve never been a “tough” girl, but lately i’m just dying over spikes
left & right. i’m still on the fence about the smoking slippers trend,
but i guess if you’re going to do it you might as well go all out, eh?

ann taylor

i just want skinny colored belts, like all the time. is that bad?
forever 21

at the blogger meetup on thursday, i met morgan who was wearing an
amazing peach kate spade statement necklace. she said she got it for a
great deal, so immediately i liked her. this cheapo version is similar in
color & is also available in mint! 
michael kors via tj maxx

this bag is the perfect “i wish this was a real birkin” size. but even at
tj maxx, it’s $180. so it’s probably just as far away from me as an
actual birkin.
trina turk via banana republic

i am obviously obsessed with this new designer collabo at banana. crazy
colors & patterns are always okay in my book. maybe two years from now
i’ll score some at the factory store for 75% off.
aldo

again with the spikes. i think they’re easiest to wear in jewel form. also
that’s the most inconspicuous way to disguise your weapons.
steve madden via tj maxx

per last week’s post it’s pretty apparent that i want a satchel. i have been
searching high & low for an inexpensive version & have come up short
(because $68 is not inexpensive for a struggling twenty-something, no
matter what anyone says). my sis-in-law gave me the heads up on this
steve madden version @ tj maxx. little sad- no pink, but for $30 the
options there can’t be beat. also it’s patent & shiny. win win.

sur la table

so i couldn’t help but snap a pic of this, but there’s a back story. i have this
whale platter that i’m in love with. it’s very nautical/vintagey old looking. it’s
from a very fancy kitchen store in rockport. it’s also plastic. so steve hates it.
he doesn’t think expensive things should be plastic. i disagree, because it will
last forever because i won’t break it. these are square and plastic & i love them. 
heys via tj maxx

so i have super old pink luggage from the christmas tree shop that is dirty
& disgusting & ripped. but hey, at least it matches. of course i didn’t think
to register for new luggage when i got married, so i missed the boat on that
one. but i found these at tj maxx & i just thought they were so cute! they’re
hard & there were all different countries represented. plus they’re clearly
noticeable so you would never not find your bags at an airport again. unless
someone stole it because they realized how cool you are with your snazzy
suitcase. 

Happy Monday!

~L

Published under: ... at Mall Madness Monday

MMM: You’re Always Buzzing Just Like Neon, Neon

Posted on Jun 5, 2012Written by Lindsay Scouras

5

Another (Mon)day, another theme. Have I mentioned that I love a good theme? 

I started to notice some pretty sweet neon items throughout the mall when I was seeking out patriotic pieces for my Memorial Day post last week. I am super excited about the neon trend, because I just feel like it’s the ultimate fashion representation of my personality. A little loud, but fabulous in small doses. I think some part of me has always had an affinity for slightly abrasive color choices. I think the obsession really started in ninth grade. After outgrowing the smiley face stage (so middle school) I became obsessed with insanely colored pieces that my friends deemed hideous. It never bothered me, and I continued to rock my Old Navy neon green winter vest and fluorescent pink techno pants (not together, duh. That would be in poor taste). 

So now I’m adult and I love neon. It’s easiest in small doses, like an accessory or a “notice me” mani, but I’m willing to rock a solid neon shirt now and then. Mainly now. 

Disclaimer: I swear all of the items in these photos are obsessively bright. Due to the awesomeness that is cell phone cameras and the wonders of Instagram, not all of the colors appear as they really are. But I promise, I specifically went hunting for items that were almost painful to the eye. So these things are all THAT BRIGHT in person. 
steve madden via lord & taylor

ahhh i die over these satchels. i’ve been wanting one FOREVER.
speaking of forever, f21- help a sister out!
victoria’s secret

this bra is so pretty. totally unpractical, but pretty. seriously-
who needs neon and lace busting out of their tops?
bellatrix via nordstrom

i know this is offensive. that’s why i like it.
j crew

man, head to toe neon is hard. but also awesome. 

ann taylor

i used to think that ann taylor was a store for working mothers. but
they are really rocking some amazing neon accessories lately. also
shout out to their petite section.
nails inc. via sephora

i’ve never heard of this brand before, & i’m slightly prejudice when it
comes to nail polish. it’s either opi or nothing at all. but i discovered
these today while shuffling around sephora & i think they look promising.
also i like that they have a sample of every color of nail polish they carry.
madewell

this blouse catches my eye every time i pass the store. it’s probably the
#1 on my obsession list right now. i can’t not look at. even the color name
just speaks to me- “vivid fuschia.” have you ever seen a more gorgeous
color?

oh, btw. it’s $110. dreams dashed.

bcbg via 344

i have never bought anything in this store. mainly because it’s way overpriced
& i feel like everything in there looks like upcharged charlotte russe merch.
i can say that because i used to work there. but it is really clean & nicely
organized, & they have a warehouse store in the mall.

Happy Monday! Busy week coming up, including a blogger event (yay!), a makeover (aka hair appointment) and a wedding. Oh, the outfits that are needed. 

Oh also, I bought a bike yesterday. But more on that later. 

~L

Published under: ... at Mall Madness Monday

MMM: Memorial Monday

Posted on May 29, 2012Written by Lindsay Scouras

0

As if I needed another reason to ogle red, white and blue items, today is Memorial Day. Now obviously Memorial Day is about more than just sporting nautical colors, but it gave me the perfect excuse for another themed Mall Madness Monday post. 

The mall is chocked full of all kinds of deliciously patriotic duds. And I of course have a sixth sense for spotting them. 
j crew

sigh. i may have mentioned i want red pants. did i mention i love red pants? i need red pants. 

tory burch via nordstrom

this display makes me wish i had three feet.
j crew

oh.my.god. people keep telling me i should have a baby, and after seeing this, i’m starting to think they’re right.

j crew

this is a little ridiculous in person. but that’s part of the reason i love it. also i’ve always wanted the one behind it too.

m.a.c.

oh geez. i was alerted of this new makeup collection last night. i obviously want everything. however- slightly deceiving, as most of the nautical flair is in the packaging, not the makeup itself. 
kate spade via nordstrom

i’ve slowly started to allow yellow into my nautical wardrobe. i like this because it reminds me of one of those flags.

madewell

this is clearly a bra made for a fourteen year old. but it and it’s matching undies are totes adorbs.

j crew

it’s like j crew knew that i had no extra money this summer, and put out all this anchor stuff just to toy with my emotions.

kate spade via nordstrom

i know, this doesn’t seem like anything special on the hanger. but it’s kate spade, it’s on clearance, and i’m thinking with some proper styling it could be very kate middleton canada debut, no?


~L

Published under: ... at Mall Madness Monday

MMM: The Finer Things

Posted on May 22, 2012Written by Lindsay Scouras

4

I’m sure you’ve been anxiously waiting for a Mall Madness Monday post, considering last weekend any mention of shopping/spending money/lusting after things I clearly don’t need was waived in honor of Steve’s birthday.


But now that that’s over, let’s get back to the stuff. We love stuff. 

christian dior via nordstrom
okay, clearly i will never own these shoes in my lifetime. my shoe collection for the next twenty years will most likely not equal half of what they cost (which is $660, in case you are wondering), but lately my favorite thing to do on break is to make the trek to the “fancy” wing of the mall, get a snickerdoodle from nordstrom’s ebar and look at ridiculously expensive shoes while i try not to get crumbs on myself. 
crate & barrel
why someone didn’t think of stackable wine glasses sooner, i don’t know. all i know is it’s hard to stack regular wine glasses, so this is a lifesaver. especially after all the wine.
banana republic
okay, so the main thing i like about these wedges is that when they’re all lined up next to each other, there is a sweet nautical effect. but i also think these look really comfortable, which based on the wedges i’ve had in the past, the strap are always unfortunately… not.
forever 21
i just love the effect of all these pointy bangles stacked together. also i’m a fan of any jewelry that double as a form of weaponry.

sam edelman via nordstrom
these are also from my cookie/shoe fetish lunch hour tour, but a good fraction of the price of the pink dior’s. still, way more money than i can spend on shoes. and yes, they are also spiky. i don’t know what it is, but slightly dangerous accessories are just calling to me lately.

banana republic
i know it’s hard to get the full effect because a.) it’s a wrap dress on a hanger and not a person, and b.) stupid instagram can only take square photos, which is not easy when you’re trying to showcase a head to toe look. but just so you can get the full idea, this dress has all my favorite elements: nautical stripes, gold buttons, clearance. yep- this find was only $40 and i passed. because i’m learning a thing called self control. and also i left my $10 reward at home.
papyrus
the mall is filled with inspirational items perfect for every generic graduation gift you will give this summer. however as a person who graduated college five ish years ago, this one really stuck out to me because it’s true. the world is no longer your oyster, kids. it’s tough and sometimes it sucks. you can take it for what it is or continue to try to be so good that no one can ignore you. i haven’t achieved this yet, but i’m working on it. five years later.

anthropologie
if cinderella were a modern hipster, this is what i imagine she’d use to check up on herself after the birds and other woodland creatures prepare her for the day. 

~L

Published under: ... at Mall Madness Monday

MMM: Summer, Summer, Summaaahtime

Posted on May 7, 2012Written by Lindsay Scouras

0

Remember when I said last week’s MMM entry was short? Well this one is miniature by comparison. However I think we’re definitely going for quality vs. quantity here, as the items I’ve highlight this week just happen to be sort of expensive for what they are. But hey- that’s what window shopping is all about. 

essie
this has to be one of the best named collections in nail polish history. poppy razzi? ft the colors lights, camera, action? okay, so the fourth one is called bazooka, which i don’t totally understand. also there’s no way i can ever buy another nail polish again, so if you would like to donate to the “lindsay needs more nail polish” fund, message me & and i’ll be happy to provide you with my address.

 kate spade via lord & taylor
i can’t stop coveting cell phone cases. sorry, let me correct myself- expensive cell phone cases. kate spade will always be my favorite. what is it about something as so simple as numbers on a phone that makes me weak in the knees?

jacadi
okay, this is crazy as i don’t have a baby. also this is for a boy, which scares the crap out of me. also babies probably should never wear white. but if i had a baby & we were taking out the small yacht for the afternoon, this is what he would wear. also it costs as much as a small yacht, so we may have to find some other method of transportation.

~L

Published under: ... at Mall Madness Monday

MMM: A Day Late & Many Dollars Short

Posted on May 2, 2012Written by Lindsay Scouras

2

Okay, so I went on this whole spiel last Monday about serious blogging, regular series, blah blah blah blah blaaaaaaaaah. And then, I failed. Sorry, I know so many of you were anxiously waiting. It was kind of a crazy week as I was home in New Hampshire cheering on my sister in her most recent pageant endeavor. Therefore this entry is slightly short as I barely spent anytime in a mall this week, which was actually rather nice. 

j crew
sequins- obv a perfect nautical accessory.

j crew 
i love this. however, i do not have a floral pencil skirt, so this needs to happen.

 gap
neon khakis. who knew these even existed?

 francesca’s collection
perfect mother’s day gift?

 j crew
this is literally everything i’ve ever wanted in a dress. ever.

kohls
this jacket is literally dripping in jewels. well, rhinestones at least. you know i don’t care.

-L

Published under: ... at Mall Madness Monday

MMM: Come Sail Away

Posted on Apr 24, 2012Written by Lindsay Scouras

2

In an effort to become a more serious blogger, I thought it was time to give myself a weekly assignment of some sort. A lot of the bloggers I follow and admire have certain themes that they post on a specific day a week. As much as I love blogging on a whim (and sometimes that’s really the only way to do it), I think it’s time to hold myself accountable for some kind of regular posting. I mean, I can’t guarantee that one of the 47 Kardashians is going to do something embarrassing all the time. 

So with that, I give you… Mall Madness Monday.

Yes, that’s right. Named after every 90’s girl’s favorite board game, this weekly post will feature all my favorite pics that I’ve snapped throughout my week as a retail slave/fashion enthusiast. Some week there could be themes, and I figured there was no better way to start than with my favorite theme of all time: Nautical.

This is the time of year where nautical items are EVERYWHERE. So clearly, I’m in heaven. Slash hell, because I can’t buy anything. I mean, after the closet post I’m pretty much banned from purchasing anything other than toilet paper. I was actually in J. Crew the other day, found two pieces in the clearance section that I had admired from The Pink Peonies and Chasing Davies (two of my favorite fashion inspirations) that were an EXTRA 30% OFF until the end of that day, and I walked away. I knew I just couldn’t live with myself. 

So what did I do instead? I Instagrammed my way through the mall as if money were no object. And in doing so, I happened to discover that my favorite motif was just about everywhere, from shoes to clothing to the visual merchandising. Here’s some of my faves:

j crew

aldo
jessica simpson via lord & taylor

anthropologie

j crew

lacoste

forever 21

j crew

forever 21

Second goal (after posting regularly)? To post this well before midnight, unlike right now. 

If you just can’t get enough of looking at artsy photos of things that I’m obsessed with, follow me on Instagram @ linzphoto731 and continue to feed my addiction by assuring me that all the things I admire are “totally cute” and that I “could so rock that look.” 

Okay, no one has ever said those things to me. I was still pretending I was playing Mall Madness. 

~L

Published under: ... at Mall Madness Monday