I love that store. I always find stuff there. They love me there too, because I always spend way too much.

Today I did some "retail therapy" and walked out with quite a haul. Here's what I got - and my thoughts about how I'll wear the new items. Would love to hear your thoughts - especially some suggestions on *footwear*!!! My next retail therapy session really needs to involve a shoe store.

1) White Jeans

Yes, Angie! I got some white jeans. I'm not sure these are keepers though. They are the ones that have flap pockets and are wider in the leg. Their bootcut jeans fit me funny - the waist is way too low for me. These fit perfectly but I am not that crazy about flap pockets. I told the sales clerk if I find something I like better in the next week or so, I'll probably return these....

I tried on pretty much every style of white pants they had in the place... except the capris because you know we all hate those unflattering creatures. I also hit up Jcrew and none of their white pants worked for me either. I do have white dress slacks and white walk shorts so that's not the issue; I just really need perfect white jeans. I plan to hit National Jean Company next time I get a chance.

2) White sateen cap sleeve jacket - it's part of a pants suit but I skipped the pants. LOVE this jacket, especially with jeans and over:

3) This faux wrap sweater: http://tinyurl.com/6nhdlx
Doesn't come in petite but the regular fit just fine, with a white cami underneath. The ruching effect is very flattering for my blubbery waistline. Scrunched up, this could be worn with skirts. My fellow hourglass girls, this is the nirvana of tops!!! If they had it in more colors, I would've scooped up one in each. (I did not get the baby blue because one blue one was enough... and in general I try to steer away from pastels).

To tie it all together, I also got a really pretty long silver and white enamel necklace that isn't appearing on the web site. But what SHOES for this ensemble??? Yellow?

4) This jacket, but in a tomato red: http://tinyurl.com/3lv3mx
This is a more casual jacket. Looks great with jeans, would work with the white jeans, would also work with khakis. Or with a skirt, because it's short enough. Will look great over my black & white patterned tee shirts. But what SHOES? Would red converses be too much???

5) This cardi: http://tinyurl.com/3zne4z
I did the "do I really need another short sleeve sweater" debate with myself, but I just loved the detailing/embellishments, and it is short enough I can easily wear it with skirts - my white eyelet skirt, I think. Or it also looked good with the new white jeans. I can wear it closed, or open over a cami or white blouse. There is just something that is very "me" about it.

6) Can't find it on the site, but I got this linen skirt that is in kind of a salmon color... not quite red, not quite orange. Not sure salmon is the correct term because it's not pink either. Unusual color and one I wouldn't necessarily wear near my face. I almost didn't even try it on. It came with a suit jacket that I nixed. But the skirt was cute and looked adorable with item #6. It also came with a cute white and navy belt, and looked good with a simple white knit shirt tucked in to it. Probably will work with simple white sandals.

7) From the sale rack, green and cream skirt ... don't see it on the site but if you shop there, you probably know which one I mean. It really fits well and the material is very nice, but I passed it up last time because I wasn't sure what to match with the cream - a bright white shirt looks wrong. I'm not even sure it's technically cream - maybe it's bone and green. Now, after going through my seasonal stuff, I think I may have a few things that might work. I have to play around with it. But I suspect that a natural linen blouse that I have may work beautifully with it.

8) Also from the sale rack, this eyelet wrap shirt: http://tinyurl.com/4b7y6j
GORGEOUS!! I love this shirt with a white cami underneath. Another perfect top for us hourglass gals. Will look great with jeans, with black pants, with white pants, with my black skirt. (It is short in length - perfect for skirts. Or pants, if you have really short legs like I do, and like to elongate.)

9) This shirt: http://tinyurl.com/4jalk6
But in tomato red, which they aren't offering on the site. Weird! I debated awhile on this one, because me and button-down shirts usually don't mix, they end up being my orphans, because I find them stuffy and uncomfortable and fussy. But this one felt comfy (I think because the sleeves are short). And the length was just soooo perfect. And it fit perfect across the chest. Made my waist look teeny-tiny. And the color was beautiful, one of my best colors. I tried it with a jacket over it and I can definetly wear this for my rare work occasions. Or with blue or white jeans... and perhaps some red converses??.... it looks nice casual too.

The hot pink/fuschia that is all over that store right now? I can't wear it at all. I tried. It just doesn't work for me at all. I'm not sure why!! But if you like fuschia, get to Ann Taylor Loft ASAP!!!

If you read through all that... suggestions, please, particularly about shoes!! I'm thinking marigold yellow flats and/or wedges (like the Me-Too's recently posted) and the red Airwalk/psuedo-converses.