Free Friday #1! - Giveaway Closed

Welcome to the first of four, fabulous Friday giveaways! First up, this amazing Christian Siriano bag! I swear I've never left the house with this bag and not received a compliment! It's over sized (which I love), it makes a statement, but is still versatile enough to dress up for work or dress down for a day of shopping! It'll take two seconds to enter, just follow these simple steps: 

1. Follow The Flip Side of Oz through Google, an RSS Feed, Bloglovin', Twitter, or Facebook
2. Leave a comment including your name (first name and last initial) and your email (so that I can contact you if you win!)
3. Receive an additional entry by following more than one way
4. Receive an additional entry by tweeting about this and let me know the feed so I can follow you back! 
5. Check back next Friday to find out if you won and to enter for the next item up for grabs!

Entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm on Thursday, September 9th. See, I told you that was easy! 

skirt dress

Right now, I am particularly enamored with long, flowing maxi dresses... however, not like this one (which I do still love). Instead, I find myself dreaming of a more voluminous maxi dress. While one of these dresses is atop my shopping radar, (I'm taking a long over due vintaging field trip this weekend) Wednesday morning I did not have said dress in my closet so I had to make do. The "dress" I am wearing is actually this skirt! I used a piece of black ribbon to cinch the waist and layered my cropped Alexander McQueen blazer on top for work. While this make shift dress may not be exactly like the floor gazing style I currently pine for, it did allow me to show off my Christian Siriano caged sandals. Not too shabby :)

  

Going Gaga: The Wardrobe

Christian Siriano heels from his Spring '10 Runway Show

As promised, I finally took some time last night to work on my wardrobe pictures from this weekend. I must admit that getting dressed for this concert was probably the most fun I've had in a while. My BFF and I took great care in preparing our ensembles for the occasion. We methodically shopped and searched and created mood boards until we knew exactly what our outfits would look like. After several trips to my fav thrift store, I am pleased to say that the entire outfit cost me under $30! However, the icing on my sartorial cake came the night of the concert when, on more than one occasion, I heard the whisper, "OMG! Look at her shoes! I LOVE those!" Yes, I did love wearing those shoes...

Snake Ring

The Ensemble

Gaga Concert Outfit Choice #1

Gaga Inspired by gleighb featuring Wolford tights

Since I had an extra day this weekend, I started putting together some thoughts for my Lady Gaga concert ensemble.  As with most things in life, not much about this outfit is certain; however, the one thing that is certain is that I will be wearing these Christian Siriano shoes.  Above is the first of two outfit inspirations.  While I started out with visions of the Bad Romance video, my BFF and I agreed that the above spoke more to Paparrazi or possibly Love Game.  Oh well, regardless, this is option #1.  Stay tuned... tomorrow I'll unveil option #2.

Payless + Toledo = pure genius!

image courtesy Style.com

Okay ladies (and gents... I don't discriminate!), now that the word is officialy out I can gush about how excited I am for our newest guest designer to join Payless! Did you hear that Isabel Toledo is going to be designing a line of shoes for Payless in the not to distant future?  Even though I am completely biased toward my company, I must say that I feel that we've up'd our game in the last several years.  I mean... Alice + Olivia, Christian Siriano, and now the designer of the iconic Inaugural ensemble... it's fierce! So, in honor of such a momentus occassion, and since I'm not allowed nor privy to show any of Toledo's work... here's some styles already on the shelves.  Go got 'em while they are still there!

Alice + Olivia Jazz Oxford, $29.99

Alice + Olivia Hampton Studded Clog, $39.99

Alice + Olivia Paige Platform Gladiator Sandal, $39.99

Alice + Olivia Eric Sequin Flat, sale: $19.99; originally $29.99

Christian Siriano Michelle Printed Peep-Toe Flat, $29.99

Predictions Harmony Elastic Sandal, $22.99

 

Airwalk Smitton Flat Studded Sandal, $22.99

in love.

shades, Payless sample; tunic, TJ Maxx; leggins, Target; sandals, Dolce Vita; bag, Christian Siriano for Payless

I bought these Dolce Vita sandals last spring while on my spring break.  I was visiting one of my best friends in Indianapolis for the week.  She and her boyfriend were, of course, working during the day so that left me with plenty of time... to shop.  These were one of my shoe purchases.  Yes, one.  I came home with three pairs of shoes and I thought I may not live to see my wedding day.  My husband is a good man.  Fortunately it's a year later and I'm still in love with the sandals, and my husband and are still in love with each other. 

sugar & spice

jacket, Kohls; dress, Target; tights, Payless sample; flats, Christian Siriano for Payless

Okay, so maybe my outfit isn't 100% sugar and spice.  But, that's what I love about it!  The contrast between the floral dress, the leather jacket and chain detailing on the flats makes it more like 75% sugar & spice with a quarter tough as nails. You see, this morning I woke up and felt like wearing a dress, but with 40 degree weather in the morning and 70 degree weather in the afternoon, it can be slightly difficult to pull off.  Fortunately I've been waiting for the perfect moment to wear this jacket and today happened to be that moment.  It's heavy enough to keep me warm in the morning (and in the office with the AC cranked up!), yet light enough that I don't feel crazy for wearing it in April. 

"Walk, Walk Fashion Baby"

The past couple of weeks have been so busy that I have not even had a chance to tell you my exciting news...

My BFF and I have tickets to see Lady Gaga in St. Louis in July! 

It should come as no surprise that I am already thinking about my wardrobe for such a special occassion - especially the shoes.  The above three pair are from Christian Siriano's spring runway show that I was lucky enough to snag from work a couple of weeks back.  The curved 6 inch heels on these are so outrageously awesome, I can't think of a more perfect selection from which to choose.  Can you pick out which pair I'll be sporting to the show?  In honor of the Lady herself, the snakeskin and sequined pair front and center will be my footwear of choice.  Now I just need to find the rest of my costume...