Monday, May 23, 2011

New Handbag

I found this handbag at a desperate moment – I was about to buy shorts that were too short and a top I was unsure of, and then I saw this handbag.




It’s not leather, but it has a great polka dot lining and it a great size. I grabbed it and ran out of the Target store before I found anything else.

The shorts and top I might return, but this is a keeper.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Verdant Slip Dress

Anthropologie – I am a huge fan, as you have probably noticed.

I love the below dress (which is currently on backorder for most sizes until 07/27), and it is not a bad price. The fun pattern adds a lot to the dress as well.

The dress has really great reviews on the site as well.





I’m off to buy a blazer from H and M right now – more about that later! Yea Fridays!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Little Black Heels

The one missing item in my wardrobe that I often wish for is a pair of little black pumps.

My heel is very narrow and I need a strap on the pumps to keep them anchored – I found it hard to find a pair that I liked with that style requirement.

Search over.



I love this brand! 

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Modcloth.com Dresses

Lately it seems like I can not stop buying dresses!

I did a search around modcloth.com the other day, and it is amazing how many pages of dresses they have available. 

This is one that I especially loved:




It’s a bit pricey, but the style is so beautiful! I love it.

Modcloth.com also has more affordable dresses, like this one that is a more day to day dress:



Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Tom's Shoes


I know I have not written in awhile, but work was crazy last week! Thank you for tuning in despite the long absence!

Tom’s shoes are the quintessential hipster accessory at this point -- I can’t believe I even own a pair, let alone wear them! Ha.




I have to say, they are quite comfortable and attractive shoes! The insole makes them easy to wear over many hours, and even when you walk for longer distances they are great!

I highly recommend wearing them and enjoying them to the upmost. They are a great alternative to wearing sandals in the summer – I already have a Tom’s tan on my feet right now! 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Sunny Dress

A good friend of mine gave me this dress a few months back, and I feel very grateful! It is so sunny and fun. The smocking on the front can be a bit of a hazard – if you hunch over at all, it makes you look like you are pregnant! Ha.



It is a lovely dress that I will wear a lot during the summer months. Now I just can not wait for the good weather!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Sailor Dress

 I purchased this dress at Anthropologie a couple years back, along with the green polka dot dress that I had previously blogged about.



I love the different blues with the piping around the bodice and the button detailing. It is such a pretty dress, and I love it!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Tweed Skirt

I came across this skirt at a local used clothing store, Crossroads, and thought it was definitely worth trying on! Many pencil skirts have not fit me right in the past, so I was dubious. The proportions have to be almost perfect (or tailored).


Yami Mazao, $8 (used)

I have never heard of the brand before, but I just found this when I googled:

Yumi Mazao was started in 1985 in Paris and has grown into quite the French brand.  She designs clothes that are timeless and comfortable in that very French way…. 

Wow! What a find – I had no idea what I was buying!

Besides the great brand, this one fits really well because it has a curvy shape. I love the texture of the tweed too.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

What a difference a dress makes…

The picture does not do this dress justice (I am working on my photography, I swear!), but it is very bright green with a fun polka dot print! The polka dots are very subtle, since they are the same color as the dress.


I purchased this a couple years ago at Anthropologie. Soon after, I saw a picture in US Weekly of Angela from The Office wearing it! Woohoo!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Flannel Shirts are SO cool

I have been watching the resurgence of the flannel shirt, and could not find a print that I liked anywhere.



The above shirt I found at Forever 21 had colors that I liked, and it was only $13! Perfect. I snatched it up. For a slightly different look, I have been wearing this with a large brown belt to create some more shape.

I had forgotten about Forever 21, but have been rediscovering it recently. They have such great clothes that are fun to wear! It is nice to try trends without fully committing with a lot of money.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Fancy Shirt

I like to call the below shirt my “clown” shirt, since it is silky and has dual color accents. Haha.


Anyway, I found this for $10 at a local discount store (on sale -- 70% off!). It is Lucca Couture shirt, a brand I have not heard of at all.

I find it looks best with more high-waisted pencil skirts or black pants.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Printed Dress

In the last ten years I have not owned any flowered clothes, but now that has changed!

I was at Target the other day checking out their dresses, and tried on about eight dresses in a variety of sizes. The “designer” dresses I tried were not flattering on me – too bad, since there were some cute ones!  

I found the dress I wanted to buy with the regular Target line, Xhilaration ($25).



The print is not too busy, which was good. Also, it is perfect for summer, since it is a light fabric but substantial enough to feel supportive.

Yea Target!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Sashimi Coat

Sometimes the best things in life are free….


Sashimi Coat, ??

It’s so true. I was complimenting a coworker on her great coat this last Winter, when she suddenly offered to give it to me! She explained that a friend had given it to her, but the sleeves were too short . They were a bit too short for me too, but I didn’t mind! I loved it.

I know my photography skills need some work, but I took this on my phone with bad lighting last night (and a dish mat in the corner -- oops!).

The coat is a burgundy color with a slightly thicker wool in a trench coat style. It is belted with a great gathered collar. So cute! I love it.

I have worn it often this Winter and have enjoyed having a nicer coat that works with casual wear as well.

P.S. After looking on the internet for a bit, it looks like this may have been a brand that was carried by Nordstrom. It looks like they might not sell it anymore...

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Anthropologie Handbags – LOVE!

I know I have not posted for a few days, but I will start taking some photos of my own clothes and including them in the blog in the future. Watch for more personalized reviews to come!

 Although there are two things that I saw shopping recently that I want to share with you!

I went to Anthropologie today – one of my favorite stores – and saw two amazing bags. They are perfect and wonderful!

There is a vintage looking bag that I am tempted to buy….




It is beautiful, with a wooden handle at the top and a detachable long leather strap as well! You can wear it as a clutch or across your body.

FYI -- The bag looks more yellow in the store, not lavender. I am not sure if the one in the store is a color no longer available, but it definitely looked different than the photo.




Anthropologie makes the most beautiful and soft leather bags. This one is darn near perfect! It has a pouch in the back perfect for sunglasses, and a pocket in the front for your cell phone. Plus, it is such a unique purple color.

It is a bit too much money for me to spend right now, but I can dream! I bought a leather handbag from Anthro a couple years ago (on sale!), and it has really held up well. They are definitely a good investment.

Friday, April 1, 2011

I Love JEANS!!!! Especially Comfortable Ones...

In the last year, I have purchased two pairs of Anthropolgie’s Level 99 Lily Straight Leg ($99) Jeans.



They are the best jeans I have ever purchased, and I have owned a variety of styles and brands in the past.

Along with the reasonable price, these are very comfortable and stylish — plenty of stretch built in but do not lose their shape, even after numerous washings and wearings (I have never put them in the dryer though). The Lily is a thinner denim that is technically straight legged, but meant to fit tighter like a skinny jean.  It’s great if you are curvy but want the skinny jean look.

Of course, wide leg jeans are in now, so these might seem a bit passé. Also, Anthro is running out of the darker denim version online, so other people must have found out about them too! There are tons of good reviews on their website.

Enjoy Your Friday!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Dress Time!

It is time I posted about dresses, since I love shopping for them! When I was a teenager and had to deal with spaghetti strapped and body hugging (in a bad way) slip dresses, it was so refreshing as an adult to discover that dresses can actually be flattering and comfortable.

I found this one on Piperlime.com, which I started checking out recently. I had thought they carried mainly shoes, but they sell a variety of goods — especially dresses at reasonable prices!

Unfortunately, this dress is on sale for $230.99!! It is way beyond my price range, but I love it and hope it will be reduced further. I can wait, even if it takes quite a while.

Bookmarking your favorites online is a great way to remind yourself to check on full priced items, since they might go on sale at any moment. One of my friends taught me that!


Shoshanna Scoop Neck Tulip Dress, Multi Tweed, $230.99

I also found this poor women’s version that I am considering purchasing, although not many sizes are available at the moment (only medium). It’s on sale for $20!



Ya Los Angeles Sleeveless Dress, Green, $19.97

Obviously, I'm into green at the moment, and it must be my spring sensibility taking over.

We shall see! If I get either, I will definitely edit this post to reflect that.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Miz Mooz Heels

I love the brand Miz Mooz – they make such cute shoes, and the prices are pretty affordable.


Miz Mooz Women's Yvonne Sandal, $99.95 on endless.com

Link to the shoes are here on endless.

Now, I do not want to lead you astray, since I have not actually purchased these. I HAVE seen them in person at a local store.

They are SO cute! I love them. I can’t stop thinking about them.

I’m here to inspire. And be bossy.  Short and sweet posting today. Go shopping NOW!

Monday, March 28, 2011

New Boots, Spring Weather

Now that Spring weather is coming to the Bay Area (hopefully!), I bought a new pair of boots! Wierd timing I know....


(Gabriella Rocha, Amber style)

I found these last September and considered ordering them, but eventually decided they were too expensive at $100.

Flat boots were my obsession last fall – I wanted a pair that looked more polished than sneakers, but did not have a high heel (FYI - these do have a hidden small heel, but very comfortable!). I get SO tired of wearing heels, but do not always want to look super casual.

Just last week I found them on a discount shoe site for $34!!

6 pm.com seems to be affiliated with Zappos, and sells shoes at very large discounts. I noticed the price had already gone up for these boots since I purchased them last week, so get the good deals when you see them!

Shoe websites seem to do this often –  they put something on sale, and then are constantly changing the price depending on the demand. 

Yea SUNSHINE and Happy Monday! Yikes.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Noir Reading

Definition of Film Noir: a motion picture with an often grim urban setting, photographed in somber tones and permeated by a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair.

Mildred Pierce, a novel by James M. Cain, is a lot in the news these days.
ISBN: 9780307946591/$14.95

Cain is considered the father of noir – he is also the author of Double Indemnity and The Postman Always Rings Twice. They were both made into legendary movies of the 40’s starring Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Lana Turner, and John Garfield.

Kate Winslet is starring in a HBO miniseries (that premieres this weekend) of Mildred Pierce that co-stars Evan Rachel Wood and Guy Pearce.
Back in 1945, there was the Joan Crawford movie adaptation, which I have seen many times and adore. At the time, Joan Crawford was considered a “has been” in the movie industry, and Mildred Pierce revitalized her career. The IMDB trivia page mentions that fact here. If you have never seen the old movie, you should go and rent it now! Joan is tremendous as Mildred – tough as nails, but also very sympathetic and human in her own way.

I finally purchased a copy of Mildred Pierce at the local independent bookstore last week. I have made my way through Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler in the last year, and thought a title by James M. Cain would be a great edition to my library of crime fiction as well.  


The book is not a murder mystery as the original Crawford movie, but a real page turner with a character you can not forget. When the book opens, Mildred appears to be an ordinary 1930’s housewife with a husband out of work because of the depression. As the opening scene goes on, it is clear that Mildred is not your average woman for any era. She is extremely tough and asks a lot of herself, husband, and children. Mildred is single minded and driven, and her relationship with her daughter Veda embodies this in everyway. Veda has one goal: to become a wealthy and prestigious member of Pasadena society. Mildred only has one goal as well: to make Veda happy and become wealthy for her daughter. The whole book is set around the tug and pull between Veda and Mildred – Mildred tries to hang onto Veda and give her what she wants; Veda is always manipulating her way in and out of her mother’s arms trying arrive at her goal, whatever it takes.

There is a psychological element to Mildred’s portrait as well, with Cain relentlessly revealing some of her innermost thoughts. They can be quite disturbing, even for modern readers.

Apparently, Cain was a reporter before he started writing books, and this is reflected in the careful description of the settings and clothes. This gives the reader a very detailed look at what 1930’s Los Angeles was really like.

I literally could not put this book down and read it in a single sitting, ending at one a.m.

Happy Reading! Go to your local independent bookstore and check it out!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Spring is for Bikes!

Biking is wonderful! In the last year, I have suddenly been converted into an urban bicycler.

It is so freeing not driving everywhere, and you feel more connected to the outdoors.



My friend had pointed me to the Public Bikes website, and I had been salivating over them! Since then, they have also come out with two models that are more reasonably priced.

I was able to get enough money together to buy a model about a month ago, and it is such a smooth ride. The bikes are constructed very well, with details like the fenders and chain guard adding a lot to the experience. Also, it is gorgeous!

http://publicbikes.com/

Check them out!

P.S. They also have the best rear wire basket for sale. You can take it off the bike easily and tote it around to farmers markets or stores. It came in handy just the other week at the library to carry around books. You can find a link to it here.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Love Red Shoes


BC Shoes, Shipwreck

I just found these shoes in bright red at a local shoe store, and I love them! (I could not find a picture in red anywhere!) The red is a really fun color that would brighten any outfit (along with the yellow pictured as well). They make me feel a bit like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, without the sparkles of course.

They are perfect for spring with a cute dress or jeans.

The shoes are super comfortable and have a very manageable heel, at a little over two inches only. They are a nice alternative to those giant wedges that everyone is going to be wearing this summer, since they are not so bulky.

Speaking of giant wedges, there are some REALLY cute styles out there. I currently have several bookmarked right now to check on, but they make me feel a bit intimidated! These shoes are baby steps....

Introduction to Sophia Shops

Let me tell you right now -- I have a problem. At least everyone always says so. :)

I LOVE shopping. At any moment, I am obsessing about an item of clothing that I would like to own. Unfortunately, I do not have unlimited funds, so many of these items never make it into my personal collection. However, some do.....even though my pocketbook might not stand it!

This blog is a collection of clothes I love — whether they are in my own closet, online, or in a store. Other items, like books or food, might sneak in every now and then, since I love to read and eat!

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which everyone knows is rife with amazing street fashion and hipsters. Alas, I am definitely not a hipster. The clothes featured on this site will be reflective of a more casual aesthetic, not fancy designer labels or super trendy looks.

I would welcome submissions of outfits or items of clothing that are your favorites as well — email me and I will post if appropriate.

Thanks for tuning in, and happy reading!