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!)

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

Official Bourgie Saturday #2 - High Tea in Annapolis

High Tea at Reynolds Tavern, Annapolis


For our second Official Bourgie Saturday, The Bourgie Saturday Team headed out to Annapolis, Maryland for a high tea. 

From BourgiepediaHigh tea: High tea is typically served in the late afternoon - typically around 4 p.m. Often served are savories (small sandwiches), scones (yum), and pastries. Read about the history of the afternoon tea and the Duchess of Bedford here. 

Location, Location, Location


Reynolds Tavern is a delightful bed and breakfast/tea house/gift shop/pub located in Church Circle in beautiful Historic Downtown Annapolis. When you walk into the historic building, you are greeted by a delightful staff, and feel that you're in a different time period. The dining room is located to the left, and the hallway is filled English antiques and photographs. 


The dining room is beautiful! It is very cozy, which means it is not ideal for large parties or groups with small children. It is a truly intimate setting, which is great for tea. 


Tea

Miss CeeCee had the prettiest tea at the table. She ordered a pot of blooming tea, which really came to life at our table. It was almost too pretty to drink! (It was also delicious.) Everyone else's teas paled in comparison to this lovely blooming tea. (Read more about blooming teas here)


Normally, when visiting a tea house, one would order... well, tea. Having visited Reynolds Tavern before, I had taken advantage of their Afternoon Tea Selections; however, we were HUNGRY!


Eats


For an appetizer, Miss CeeCee ordered the crab dip, which she kindly shared with the table. If you're ever in Maryland - especially Annapolis - you must try crabs! Nobody does crabs the way we do crabs in Maryland, and Annapolis is the Mecca of Crab. The crab dip was delicious, and at $9 was a good amount of food for the price. 

The best appetizer at Reynolds Tavern has to be their cream of crab soup. Order a bowl because a cup just won't be enough of this delicious soup! Sometimes the server will offer it, and sometimes you have have to ask, but make sure you get a splash of sherry in soup. It definitely brings out all of the flavors of the soup, and adds an extra dose of bourgie to your meal. 

Side note: Sometimes I pick up some of their soup during my lunch breaks in the winter. It is so warm and delicious, and helps take your mind away from your work day for just a few minutes. 

Those who like sweet appetizers will love their sweet potato fries. They are a very generous serving, and are very sweet. Share these with a group of friends when you come and have your first Bourgie Saturday.


For our meals, three of us ordered the jumbo lump crab cake. Crab cakes can be hit or miss: some places make heavily breaded crab cakes which should really just be called jumbo cakes since they're missing lumps of crab, while other places mostly season the crab meat and form it into a cake (the proper way). Reynolds Tavern definitely knows how to make a jumbo lump crab cake. I ordered spinach and mashed garlic red potatoes to accompany my crab cake. Perfection! The spinach wasn't too salty, and the potatoes really complemented the crab cake. 


Triston wasn't too fond of the turkey reuben, but I can't exactly explain why. If I ever find out, I'll edit this post. (It has become a Bourgie Saturday tradition for Miss CeeCee, Jean, and I to love our meals, and for Triston to hate his. He's always the anomaly!) 


Bourgie Fashion


We really bourgie'd it up for RT. We looked chic and bourgie - but never flashy!

• Alexis was representing Ann Taylor with one of their black virgin wool sheath dresses,  a light pink blazer, and added a leopard scarf for the drive in. Every bourgie lady should own a sheath dress!
• Miss CeeCee added a twist to a modern tea outfit by wearing a soft peach cardigan over a white colored shirt, and khaki-colored pants instead of a skirt (it was cold!). 
• Jean went with the H&M/Top Shop/Urban Outfitters trifecta for this Official Bourgie Saturday outing. Pair a blazer with a skirt/shirt combo and you've got a chic, bourgie look for all seasons.
• Triston - Every self-respecting bourgie man needs an argyle sweater in his arsenal. Throw an argyle sweater over a white collared shirt, and you have instantly gone bourgie! 

Get Your Bourgie Up


Craving tea after reading this article? If you want to try some interesting teas, head to your local Teavana. You can buy all kinds of tea accessories in their stores, sample teas mixed by the staff, or even order iced tea to go. Think of them as the Starbucks of Tea. (Their prices are similar as well.)