Bourgie Staples: Oxfords

I admittedly did not understand the power of the Oxford until last fall, but I'm so glad I learned!

According to Zappos, Oxfords:

Defined as a low leather shoe with lacing over the instep, the oxford shoe is as versatile as it is timeless. There are so many styling options: round toe, cap toe, bicycle toe, Algonquin toe, wingtip -- and the list goes on. Whatever aesthetic the occasion calls for, from casual to formal, there is a pair of oxfords that fits the bill. Take the workplace for example; oxford shoes are ideal for the white or blue collar professional. If you spend your days at a desk and in meetings, match a pair of Allen-Edmonds, Johnston & Murphy®, Bostonian®, Florsheim® or Rockport® oxford shoes with khakis or slacks for a board-approved look. If you work in the construction or hospitality industry, tried and true brands like Dickies®, Caterpillar®, Wolverine®, Timberland PRO®,Skechers Work® and Dr. Martens® offer shoes with steel toes and slip, oil and abrasion-resistant outsoles. Work won't seem like work when you're wearing the perfect oxford.

When it's time to relax and enjoy yourself or head out on the town with friends, it's time for your favorite pair of jeans and a comfortable, stylish oxford. Timberland®, Skechers®, Nunn Bush®, Dunham®, Dockers®, Bass® and Clarks® offer denim-friendly oxfords for men and women with an abundance of comfort features.

If your style is a bit more sleek and contemporary, youll want to check out fashion-forward brands like A. Testoni, Bruno Maglia, Giorgio Brutini®, Calvin Klein, Stacy Adams® and Ted Baker. These feature men's oxford shoes with a wide variety of cutting-edge styling and color options with great finishes. These are the ultimate compliment to a fashionable ensemble and a testament to your great taste.

With the wide range of kid's oxford shoes on Zappos.com, your little ones can be just as stylish and sophisticated as mom and dad. Great brands like Polo Ralph Lauren Kids, Petit, Sonnet Kids, and Stride Rite® have children's oxfords to help you dress up your son and daughter for school, play or events.

Oxfords can be worn all-year round and are an absolute staple in any decent footwear collection. So whatever style, color and size of oxford shoe you are looking for, chances are pretty good you'll be able to find it at Zappos.com.

I own a pair of these Bass oxfords,
and I absolutely love them!

Now, I can't attest to the power of Zappos (I've been wanting to test out their site for a few years now), but I think they're pretty spot-on with their description of this shoe style. They're comfortable and practical shoes, and a nice fashion statement if you get an interesting pair. I own a pair of Bass oxfords, and I get compliments every time I wear them. What's cool about the ones I picked up is that I got an amazing deal at DSW (and I hardly ever shop there), and it seems that you can get good deals on them this time of year. What's even cooler about Oxfords is that they are fashionable for both men and women. So, hurry! Get yourself a pair during the Labor Day Weekend! (Hey! Remember: Bourgie on a Budget!)

Bourgie Staples: Chambray Tops

Every bourgie woman needs a chambray top. They're cute, versatile, and just knowing that they're chambray is bourgie. I like wearing mine (which is the camp shirt style featured below) with black slim leg ponte pants (another bourgie staple). You can pair them with bright-colored bottoms to add a little spice to your bourgie life, give yourself a monochromatic look with denim bottoms, or even try a fun animal print -- the options are endless!

J Crew Chambray Top

Ann Taylor Chambray Camp Shirt

Bourgie Trends: Coconut Water

Recently, I took a trip down to South Beach to visit a friend. While there, I discovered that I was the only person in the city who hadn't tried the latest in beverage trends: coconut water.

There are many claims that coconut water is the latest and greatest thing to drink. Some say you should substitute it for sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade, as it is high in electrolytes. Others say that there are no benefits to drinking it, and that you're better off just drinking water.

(See the video below for a few quick facts about coconut water.)

Regardless, I decided to give it a try. I tried the Zico brand, and I have one thing to say: blech! It was so gross! To me, it tasted like someone walked around Target barefoot for 3 hours, then stuck their big toe in my water. FOUL! Perhaps it was the brand? Maybe all coconut water tastes that way? To all of you coconut water drinkers out there: Is there a trick to drinking this stuff and enjoying it?

Share your thoughts in the comments!

You Know You're Bourgie When...

... you drink vodka from a tea cup.


Thank you, Gossip Girl.

Bourgie Song of the Week: Fashion by Lady Gaga

This is old, but it's still bourgie. Enjoy!

You Know You're Bourgie When...

...you've been invited to a ball or gala.

First, you have to thank the person who invited you. Not everyone gets to go to these uber bourgie events. Some people don't know how to act or dress for a fancy night out, so you should be honored that someone thought you could carry yourself appropriately.

Secondly, you need to make sure you are dressed appropriately. Find out the dress code. If it is black tie, you better make sure you are in black tie! For the fellahs, that means (gasp!) a tuxedo! If you don't own one (though every bourgie man should), you can always rent one. I'm not much of a fan of renting clothes, but there are very classy ways of doing so. If you are a gentleman who anticipates attending many black tie events over the course of a few years, you should definitely invest in a tux. Why rent when you can own? If you're a lady, you need to make sure you are AT LEAST in cocktail attire (unless there is any indication that this is improper for your event). "Black tie optional" typically means that it is a slightly more lenient dress code, thus enabling you to wear a cocktail dress.

Make sure you don't drink too much; you do not want to be known as the hot mess at the ball. If it is cash bar, you're probably less likely to be getting krunk anyway (hey, drinks at these events are not cheap). If it's open bar, that does not grant you permission to get sauced. Seriously.

Socialize, socialize, socialize! These events are typically great networking opportunities. If you don't know anyone besides your date, make sure you socialize with the other folks at your table (if you have one - though you probably will) at the very least. If you recognize others in the room, make it a point to talk to them. Don't hide!

Keep your phone on silent! I cannot begin to tell you how embarrassing it is for everyone if your phone goes off during an award acceptance speech. Rude! And that also means no tweeting during the event. Double rude!

Know what the event is all about. Even if you don't know anybody in the room, you should be able to speak intelligently about the event you're intending.

Have fun! It's not every day that you get to get all Cinderella/Prince Charming-ed out.

Look fierce. Be fierce. WERK.

You Know You're Bourgie When...

... you say things like this:

"OMG! I would kill myself if I had to shop at David's Bridal! They have like one [crappy] Vera Wang collection."

Tick Tock: The Bourgie Watch Hunt Begins

A year older, a year bourgier -- that's how I see my upcoming birthday...

As a gift to myself (who says you can't buy yourself a gift?), I am looking into purchasing a nice "grown-up" watch. Not too fond of leather straps, I have been looking into several styles of watches by various designers/manufacturers. So far, I have come up with a list of a few likes and dislikes:

Likes
Rose Gold - The color is just perfect for me!
Ceramic
Bling - A bourgie girl without bling is like a zebra without fierce stripes.
Medium-sized faces

Dislikes
Silver - Color looks good on some people, but it is dreadful on me!
NFL Linebacker-sized faces
Blong - When the bling doesn't bling like it's supposed to.
Boyfriend watches - My wrist is just too small for this foolishness. (Plus, how can a single lady wear a "boyrfriend" watch. That's just not right.)

One thing I learned from a sales associate at the Michael Kors in The Mall in Columbia is that Michael Kors watches are manufactured by Fossil - as are DKNY and a number of other designer watches. What does this mean? You are getting the same quality watch at all of the stores, you're just paying upwards of $100 extra for the designer's name! Even more interesting is that Fossil has way more options, and their warranty is incredible (11 years!!).

When choosing a watch, it is important to see how it will look on your wrist. You may love silver, but silver may not love your skin tone. Rose gold was the most flattering for my complexion, but what works for me may not work for you. Also, don't be afraid to try on some that you may not exactly be in love with. You never know how they'll look on your wrist!

*Get Your Bourgie Up mini lesson: Before going into the store, make sure you know how to put on a watch. I know that sounds like common sense, but bourgie watches don't work the same way regular old watches do. If you've never tried on a watch, just go to the store, put on your best bourgie face, and politely ask the sales associate to help you try on some different watches. When you try them on, male sure you ask them if they remove links on site. (This can be a real pain if you don't get it taken care of while you're shopping.) Most places will remove the links for free, and they'll give you the removed links when they're done.*

Make sure you check out a variety of stores/websites before making your final decision. Different stores have different prices, and you want to get the best product AND warranty for your $$. You're going to want to try to product on before you purchase it, so please be careful before ordering online! You also want to make sure you understand how to change the time, date, and any other features your watch might have. (Most "grown-up" watches don't come with instructions!)

I can't wait to buy my watch! If you're hunting for watches, let me know what some of the things are YOU look for.

Happy watch hunting!

A little bonus, for my bourgie nerds out there: The History of Wrist Watches

Bourgie Song of the Week: Whitney Houston, I WIll Always Love You

Rest in Peace, Whitney Houston

You Know You're Bourgie When...

...you don't cry over spilled milk - you cry over spilled Moroccan oil.