Polka Dot Chambray and the Beaded Rose Necklace

Well, I may have spoke too soon yesterday when I said "spring has sprung!" It is COLD again in Michigan! It is officially my birthday month, so spring needs to get into gear here. Speaking of my birthday, my {early} 30th birthday gift to myself was the gorgeous Beaded Rose necklace from J.Crew. I am a little late to the Beaded Rose party, but better late than never, right? I had been debating on purchasing it, and I saw it in my store, but just could not commit to spending that much on a necklace. You know me, I try to remain practical, and when it comes to J.Crew jewelry, I tend to choose the look for less. A couple of days later, I went back to get it, and of course, it was gone. It was also sold out online. I tried the "We will find it for you" feature that J.Crew offers, but they could not locate one. I thought I was out of luck, but then it was available online again! However, it was backordered until March 28. I went for it knowing that if I changed my mind during the month wait, I could always sell it on eBay - at a profit! This baby is in high demand. Anyway, it ended up arriving early when I was on my Ireland/Scotland trip. Once I finally had it in my possession, there was no way I was selling it on eBay. It is my 30th birthday after all! A girl has to treat herself sometimes, right?

I could not wait to wear this necklace! Initially, I was worried about its versatility, but now I am finding it hard to not to wear it every day. It actually goes with quite a bit and is comfortable to wear despite its size. How perfect is it with the polka dot chambray and mint denim?! It is definitely the most expensive necklace that I have ever bought for myself. Of course, a week after I received it, I found a look-alike on Etsy (more info below). Go figure, right? Still, I am keeping this one, and I am happy I decided to purchase it. 

Sometimes the splurge is worth it, and this one definitely was.

At the first hint of spring, I grabbed the necklace and put on what I consider a classic, go-to spring look - polka dot chambray, mint denim and bow flats. I also like to call this look the "blogger/instagrammer uniform." It seems like we all have a polka dot chambray top, mint denim and the nude bow flat. Many of us also have the beaded rose necklace. You cannot go wrong pairing these items together. What can I say? It is the perfect spring look! We all have great taste! 

I have talked before about how creating a quality look on a budget is all about the balance. I may be wearing a $148 necklace from J.Crew, but I balance that with an Old Navy polka dot chambray blouse and Loft mint denim that I purchased at 50% off. I would love to dress in head to toe J.Crew, but the reality is, I can't. Unless I win the lottery. A girl can dream, right? Good news is, you can still have that quality "J.Crew look" without going broke. It is all about the balance (and catching the sales).

Outfit Details

Polka Dot Chambray - Old Navy (sold out, but try eBay, or similar at Piperlime and Old Navy) // Mint Denim - LOFT // Bow Flats - Me Too via Nordstrom Rack (similar at J.Crew Factory) // Necklace - J.Crew (sold out, but try eBay or Etsy for a look-alike) // Bag - Kate Spade Astor Court Crossbody via Gilt // Bracelets - J.Crew (wait for sale) and Gigglosophy // Watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs (see my tips for shopping watches) // Ring - Hello Fab

As mentioned above, I did find a Beaded Rose necklace look-alike on Etsy (here). If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw the post. The option is there to get the look for less! Also, check out the Fan Fringe necklace look-alikes! A fellow Instagrammer as ordered this exact necklace and loves it! I think I am going to get one! You know I love Etsy!

Linking up with:
My Thrifty Chic & The Sapphire Bee, Style Elixir, Because Shanna Said So, The Pleated Poppy and Real Girl Glam