MK at the 3rd Annual Chanel Dinner Party Honoring the Tribeca Film Festival Artist Program (phew long name!)

How quickly she redeems herself! After that disaster last week with the headband she showed up last night at the Chanel party looking chic yet realistic. I believe she's wearing all Chanel except for the Balenciaga boots but feel free to correct me if I'm terribly wrong.  I think a lot of people feel that the Olsen's are just too eccentric to try to imitate and in some cases that's true. But you can take inspiration from their outfits and make them work for you! This outfit is incredibly easy to put together and wear on a much smaller, and less photographed, budget. But please don't mimic the washed out-haven't slept in a few days make up. Just don't.

Ralph Lauren has a great prep school inspired blazer in navy that retails for $159. I've read that the Olsen's wear RL boys sports jackets. If you're petite enough than that would probably be a cheaper option but for the rest of us I think this is a nice blazer.

And of course you can always count on American Apparel for sheer deep v-necks at only $18.

A black bubble skirt is pretty easy to find but not always easy to wear. Personally, I don't like them on myself but on others they look great. MK's sparkles which is great for evening but if you want to go daytime or more casual a plain black bubble skirt is an excellent substitution like this one from Kohls plus it's only $19.99. 

I'm assuming that anyone who has picked up a fashion magazine or read a fashion blog has a pair (or four) of black tights or leggings to throw on for this look. If you don't and still want to add some "sparkle" to your outfit these $12 Capezio tights could work great.

 So that just leaves us with the Balenciaga boots. Unless you're a paparazzi princess Balenciaga boots are hard to wear (and hard to come by). But you can find really cute stacked ankle boots like these Lumiani Vieras for $178 on Zappos.com that I'm personally obsessed with and think you can wear in ANY season, yes, even spring/parts of summer!

And there you have an Olsen inspired outfit for less than $400 and it's a pretty good bet that no one will think you look like a bag lady.

I need your help choosing a gym!

Sorry to be completely off topic here but how do you choose a health club? I've been calling places and making appointments for "drop ins" all afternoon. If I was living in the city I'd have far more options but being in the suburbs I have to make do and cross town lines! My health care will reimburse me $150 a year as long as I've been at a single club (and a bone fide member) for 4 months. 

I've narrowed it down to three but none of them are great options:

1. Gold's Gym   

               -It's the closest. Actually there are TWO locations in equal distance.

               -It's mid-priced ($39.99 a month) with an initial personal trainer consultation to come  up with a "plan of action" and includes all the classes

              -My "home" club is actually kind of grimy. And all glass so anyone and everyone can see in. There aren't really any amenities (no sauna!) and I'm scared to even see the  women's locker room and blech showers...

              -My health plan gets me a TINY monthly discount at selected Gold's Gyms.

              -I have an apt. with their membership guy tomorrow at 2

    

    2.  Boston Sports Club

         -Mid-distance. It's a few towns over but I can take back roads pretty easily. It's the way I go to the mall. That's a plus-mall proximity

         - MOST EXPENSIVE. $85 a month PLUS a $29 fee to join. And the $85 offer is only good if I sign up tomorrow. Because once it's May the fee will be $95 a month. That $150 yearly refund from my health insurance wouldn't even begin to cover this place. Forget stopping over at Nordstrom after a workout.

       -It's luxury all the way. Two pools, a spa/sauna, basic personal training, access to all classes, tennis courts, squash courts (does anyone REALLY know how to play Squash?) Fancy soaps, shampoos, hair dryers in the locker room, etc. Plus a cute healthy cafe and sporty store.

      - I have an apt. with their membership guy, Andy, at 7.

  3. Bally Total Fitness

- It's the furthest away. I have to actually take a highway to get there. And between the hours of  6 am-9:30 am and 3 pm-7 pm on weekdays the traffic is so bad it's amazing more people don't just flip out and drive the car off the road in frustration. 

-It's the cheapest! The plan I'd be picking out is only $24 a month unlimited access to the gym and classes plus an initial personal training session and "making a fitness plan". (They have    other plans starting at $19 up to $53 a month.) Considering I'm really only interested in a May-September type of plan right now the $150 reimbursement actually makes sense at this club.

-Britney seems to be enjoying Bally over the past few weeks.

-I'd say their amenities are in between Gold's and BSC. Which is good as I'd like a little something (like a sauna) but I don't need complete pampering. 

-I have an apt. at Bally at 12 pm

So which one do I choose? Luxury that I can't afford, close proximity without being exactly what I'm looking for, or the probable best fit (and cheapest) that is easily 40 minutes away...on a good day? Plus, on these appointments am I supposed to work out? Do I bring gym clothes? Do I even have anything suitable to work out in?!?! And at the gym...Puma's or Sketchers? 

So much more complicated than I thought it would be! Comment and tell me your gym stories (awesome one! nightmares! how you picked one out!) or at least give me some sound advice!