Short Pump Mall: Project Style Round 1

Back in February I discovered a contest at my local mall in conjunction with Shoptopia, Project Style 2011. I decided to enter by submitting a photo and a short explanation of my style inspiration. To my delight and surprise, I received an email on Friday that I had been selected as a semi-finalist for Round 1 of the contest! I am beyond thrilled to have been chosen and determined to give it my best shot. As a semi-finalist, I won a $150 gift card to shop the mall plus one item from my closet to create my ultimate trend-setter outfit showcasing my style. Over the weekend, I photo shopped at the mall to get inspiration for my outfit. The clock is ticking as I only have until April 14th to submit four photos and a 60-second video for the online voting which begins on April 15th and closes on April 30th. The most votes, of course, wins. 

Today I met with the Marketing Director to pick up my gift card and get busy. Have you ever noticed that when the pressure is on - your Muse goes silent? If that doesn't happen to you, consider yourself fortunate. My Fashion Muse is particularly tempermental and does not succumb to pressure. 

RECONnaissance Fashion at the mall

I have spent 6 hours wandering the mall over the course of 2 days finding items that may become my trend-setting outfit. I have a budget of $150 plus ONE item chosen from my closet or my own money. I am thinking shoes should be my closet item or my next purchase of my own money. I must provide receipts for the items shopped on the budget. 

Here are my choices:

Outfit number 1:

Express dress for $58 

 or

 or

with

Cardigan at Dillards for $40

with

 Cuff at Francescas Collections for $18

Owl ring at Francesca's Collections for $12

Outfit 1 totaling $128

plus shoes purchased on my dime

Outfit number 2: 

H&M

Dress: $20

Scarf: $3

Belts: $12

with

Cuff from Francesca's Collections $18

Urban Outfitters Bag $68

Outfit 2 totaling $121

plus my own shoes: Green Jessica Simpson wedges 

Outfit number 3:

H&M

Dress: $35

Scarf: $15

Halston for Bakers Shoes Miranda $70

plus my own jacket seen HERE

Outfit totaling $120

Outfit number 4:

Dillards top: $34

Dillards skirt $30 (I think)

H&M jacket $40 (I think)

Outfit 4 totaling $104

with my own shoes (possibly Combat heeled boot seen HERE)

RECONnaissance:

Self-photo shopping Urban Outfitters

Tiffany went with me to the mall on Saturday and we took some pictures of each other:

Tiffany fell in love with the beaded belt/scarf/tie on clearance for $5 in Urban Outfitters - she bought it. Very versatile piece!

As a side note - I love the jacket she is wearing with the studded lapels.

I tried on this weird hat scarf thing - wondering what those two holes are supposed to be....

Back to the shopping:

Outfit number 5:

Urban Outfitters Maxi Dress $70 with scarf $29

Cuff from Francesca's Collection $18

H&M Basket Tote: $20 (I think)

with my own pewter sandals

Outfit 5 totaling $137

Other inspirational items that I liked:

NY&CO necklace

Express TShirt

Baker's Shoes

Aldos Wedges

Urban Outfitters Pumps

 Dillards Jacket $45

White House Black Market Hat

 Coldwater Creek Skirt

H&M skirt

I found out during my mall RECONnaissance that many of these stores don't like (allow) people to take pictures of their merchandise. Every photo is mine but I make no claim on their products - just that I liked them enough to want remembrance of them. A particular store's associate followed me out of the store to chastise me....

but they weren't the only ones.

Please anticipate a post BEGGING you to vote for me in the Project Style Round 1 on Shoptopia.com starting April 15th - vote everyday once a day. The winners of each of the five rounds return to the mall for a Live Style Off event in which we will each receive $200 and an hour to shop, change into our outfits and report back to model our selections for the judges. The winner of the Live Style Off receives bragging rights to the Top Trendsetter 2011 title and $1000 shopping spree at the mall. 

So I am asking you wonderful blogger friends and readers to give my muse a nudge (and me too) by commenting below to help me choose amongst the items I have photographed. 

Thank you for the Fashion help!