What I Wore: Maxxinista

A few weeks ago before meeting some friends for dinner, I popped into T.J.Maxx in Georgetown. Growing up, when we did our annual pilgrimage from Sun Valley to Seattle (yes, we had to drive that far) for school shopping, we always started there first. We learned the thrill of a good bargain at a young age from my mom, and it's still my adrenaline of choice today. 

To the important stuff. I picked up two awesome finds in the designer section for crazy good deals. First, I'm normally not a shorts girl. I've had varicose veins since I was a teenager and knee-length dresses are typically my go-to in the summer months. But these Helmut Lang shorts at the bargain price of $30 were too good to pass up. I took them out for a spin this weekend when it was 100 degrees and shorts were the only way to go. 

Helmut Lang Shorts (on sale at Nordstrom Rack), Mar y
Sol basket tote, Stuart Weitzman Alex Sandal, Everyly
Tank Top from Mimi & Red (old)

But it's not all about play clothes. The MOST PERFECT-FITTING Tory Burch trouser chinos in Navy were another steal at $40. I've searched all over the interwebs to see if I can find them in other colors. I'm seriously contemplating giving them to a tailor to make a pattern so I can get some other pairs made in different fabric. 

Tory Burch Trousers, Zara peplum top (old), Manolo
Blahnik Striped Pumps (old)

On a side note, I'm so glad I chose the wedding shoes I did. I love wearing them to work knowing that they're the same shoes I said "I do," in. And they truly are striped perfection. Definitely getting a great ROI on my cost per wear. 

Calling All Maxxinistas

I've been shopping at T.J. Maxx for as long as I can remember. We used to make an annual trip to Seattle from Idaho to do our school shopping and T.J.'s and Marshalls were always our first stops. My mom taught us young. So when I got the chance to attend the opening of the 1000th T.J. Maxx store yesterday right here in downtown D.C., I just couldn't pass it up.

So my fellow maxxinista of Courcy Inspired Design (she's a true believer too) and I got up bright and early to check out the amazing nearly 29,000 sq foot store! And it was worth the trip!

The Runway, T.J. Maxx's designer section, was our first stop, and it did not disappoint. Prada, Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, Balenciaga...I could go on. Several striped pieces from Prada Spring '11 made it to the dressing room with me, but didn't fit quite right. I died a little inside knowing that someone else was going home with them. 

The store is huge, with great spacious dressing rooms, a functional layout, and a huge jewelry counter that I will definitely be coming back to check out. And to top it all of, the opening is creating 60 full- and part-time jobs here in the district. Retail helping people in so many ways! 

I'm so glad the store is a short walk from my office. My pocketbook...not so much. I did walk away with a great pair of Paige yellow jeans that you'll be seeing in an outfit post soon! When I don't have to get to work I'll be coming back to spend some good quality time with one of my all time favorite stores. This is definitely the beginning of a beautiful relationship. 

If you want to learn more about T.J. Maxx and how they get their amazing merchandise, check out this article from the USA Today. 

Note: I did receive a gift card for attending the launch, but all of the opinions in this post are my own.