Embracing Internet Shopping

So, my boyfriend says that everyone shops online these days. For me, however, this has rarely been the case. Living in Cincinnati, I had most of the recognizable fashion brands at my fingertips in a HUGE mall only minutes from my home. And, if they didn't have what I was looking for (which was a hard-pressed situation, considering that NORDSTROM is one of the flagship stores), I could always drive about 20 minutes to the Premium Outlets.

Needless to say, this is hardly the case here in North Texas. The local mall does boast TWO Dillard's stores, but their selection includes Reba and what I refer to as "blingy butt" Miss Me jeans. Not exactly my style. In fact, most of my local shopping (to date) has taken place at Target and American Eagle. Finding what I'm truly looking for has, to this point, required a 2.5 hour (one way) drive to Dallas, or on-line shopping.

Last week, I was looking for some cute accessories for myself and my home.  I was inspired by my recent trip to Florida, and I was looking for vibrant colors and nautical themes.

Thankfully, Wisteria came to the rescue. Having learned about this company from a friend who, oddly enough, just moved to Texas from Cincinnati, I remembered seeing some necklaces in their catalog. They were seed bead necklaces, handmade by "experienced artisans in India". While the items I saw in the catalog were beautiful, they were muted colors and not exactly what I was looking for. So, I took to their website www.wisteria.com, and by some miracle, I found EXACTLY what I was looking for--vibrant, beautiful necklaces!  In fact, I found a set of 3!  How much you may ask??  $11.70!  For ALL three!  I received them today, and they were packaged in a lovely, reusable burlap pouch.

Check them out:

How cute are these?!  So vibrant and fun!  Layer them together for a large statement piece with an LBD or a nice blouse and pencil skirt.  Or, wear them alone with jeans, a t-shirt, and a cute blazer!  The possibilities are ENDLESS!  $3.90 a piece! 

For my home, I found an equally lovely and inexpensive accessory. My boyfriend was raised in Florida (and served for 5 years in the USCG) and his father is retired from the United States Coast Guard.  Needless to say, the sea is in his blood. So, when looking for a new little "something" for my place (and, consequently, something for his new place), I again turned to www.wisteria.com. This time, I found a set of 6, nautical themed coasters. The price?  $4.75 on clearance!!  Again, I received them today. Each set came in a beautiful box, carefully packed to avoid breakage. 

Take a look:  

These make me yearn for the white beaches of Destin!  :)

Needless to say, the boyfriend was right.  It turns out you CAN buy with confidence on the Internet, and Wisteria is a company that I would recommend to anyone!  Whether you are looking for yourself, your friend, or your home, you will surely find something there!

Until next time...

Vanessa

Signing on

So, I decided to start this blog for multiple reasons, not the least of which is to keep my feeble mind occupied in a less-than-desirable geographic location.

The pursuit of the endeavor is to create a blog that is enjoyable to read, informative, interesting, and that sheds light on my current location.

I am a girl who absolutely LOVES all things related to fashion, especially classic, preppy styles.  Living in a small Texas town certainly presents a challenge when trying to pursue fashions that fit my taste.  My solution?  I am going to start scouring not only the Internet, but the local shops (yes, here in Wichita Falls) that may be able to feed my need.  I mean, I COULD drive the 2.5 hours (one way!) to Dallas every weekend, but what is the fun in that?  

So, I invite you to follow me on this journey, understanding that I am, in no way, shape or form, an expert in fashion.  I am, however, a person who has always enjoyed fashion, and I have been accused (by more than one person) of being a "fashionista".  So, hold onto your pink bows, and follow along!

Don't want to leave you without a little nugget of inspiration, so here are some sites that I am currently OBSESSED with!  Enjoy...and buy something!

The first nugget is a new company I discovered by following another blogger, Sarah Vickers, of Classy Girls Wear Pearls www.classygirlswearpearls.com.  This is her company, and they sell amazing, nautical-themed accessories.  Check them out!   www.kieljamespatrick.com

My second nugget of inspiration this week is Wisteria.  They sell all kinds of amazing things, from home furnishings to hand-made jewelry.  It just so happens that a good friend of my works for them.  They have an amazing on-line store at www.wisteria.com, as well as a boutique in Dallas, TX.  I recently ordered some seed bead necklaces and some sweet nautical-themed coasters.  

Alright, fashion lovers.  That's it for this inaugural edition of "The Non-functional Belt".  More to come for sure...

Oh, and if you're wondering, the name of this blog is The Non-functional Belt in honor of my amazing boyfriend.  While he completely supports my love of fashion, he doesn't always "get it", and he refers to any belt I wear on my natural waist as my "non-functional belt"!  Gotta love that guy!

Ok...until next time!

Vanessa