The Long and SHORT of It

Ah, summer clothing. Ethereal floral prints, wispy tank tops, caramel brown sandals...these are a few of my favorite things.

But SHORTS? Not so much.

I probably own 3 good pairs of shorts, all three hand me downs from my sister. All 3 have been beat to hell by the both of us so that they don't constrict my legs and suffocate my poor ankles. I dread that first moment when you try on a pair of new shorts, and it's like you have two rubberbands latched on to your thighs!

But I have a Theory to my problem.

Literally.

Or should I say, Theory has become the solution to my problem after I discovered these shorts on sale at Tootsie's in Atlanta for $95.



Seem pricey to you even at $95 for a pair of shorts? Well, while mine came in an army green color for half the price of the khaki ones above, I have worn them well over a half a dozen times since buying them 2 weeks ago. The amount of usage I've gotten out of these shorts helps explain my theory of P.P.W.

What am I talking about?

Why, it's "Pay Per Wear" of course! You know you've gotten the most bang for your buck when you divide the number of times you've worn the item from the price it originally cost you. That's why in some instances, it's okay to splurge on that $350 DVF wrap dress- as long as plan on wearing it for the rest of your same dress size life.

So sure, I was only only $5 away from my maximum, but after sporting the heck out of those shorts in less than a month, I'd say it was a GREAT purchase.

What are some of your most valuable P.P.W. items in your closet?

Hangin' Tough

J. Crew's seasonal collections can be hit or miss for me. I remember absolutely loving their fall collection last year, enjoying all their twists on cardigans and scoring a couple from my Christmas wish list. But since that time, I have not been drawn to shop there as much. Maybe it's because I've found other wonderful places to shop since moving to Atlanta or maybe it's because I feel like so many of J. Crew's pieces are meant to fit on tall, stringy girls with boyish figures. And this is so far from my shape that I don't even try on skirts, pants or shorts from there anymore.

But one thing J. Crew (and Victoria's Secret) does do quite well is the art of the sale. And if you're trying to spend $100 or less, you should probably worship at the Church of Jenna Lyons.

Using an oversize v-neck white or grey tee & gold sandals (you surely already own), try this combo of feminine and tough for a casual summer outing. Click to enlarge!



L to R: 5" Chino Short, $23.60; Printed Lieutenant Jacket, $39.99; Ribbon & Rope Necklace, $15.99; Vachetta Grommet Belt, $15.60 - Price reflects the 20% off summer sale promo with code SUMMER20, valid til 11:59pm EST June 9!