Floral Note

The end of the season is almost here! I can taste it! Though the performance season (finally) winds down next week (but only after a very long 4-day stretch of busy days AND nights, I should mention), the craziness in my world doesn't really quiet down until the end of the commencement season next month. But only a month to go! I can do it!

Jacket - LOFT / floral top - Anthropologie / Denim pencil skirt - Lane Bryant

This outfit has been a long time coming, the pieces of which were inspired by Kendi. I've just loved the floral and olive jacket pairing so much that I simply had to recreate it. The fashion gods thus smiled upon my quest when I came upon a single size of this top in the sale room at Anthropologie - and t'was my size! Fate, people. Fate. The olive jackets I have in number, so that one was easy. I only decided to go with a skirt in this iteration because 1) tucked-in shirts only look good on me when worn with skirts and 2) I had performances this morning and I wanted to be a little dressier than jeans. So, this dressy denim skirt fit the bill nicely instead.

Ring - Limited / Handbag - Tano "Minilisa" in Blue Marine (musthavebag.com)

I must admit that I first donned boots this morning, but I really only did so because I hadn't, er, shaved in a while... I had the chance to pop home for lunch, so I took the opportunity to shave then. (I would have needed to do so tonight or tomorrow morning anyway, so I'm glad I got it out of the way!) I promise you that these little peep too flats are much cuter and more flattering.

Belt - Kohl's (?) / Peep toes - Payless / Earrings - LOFT

Until my next post (whenever that might be?) I just want to thank all my readers, new and old, quiet or outspoken, for bearing with me! Your kind words keep me keepin' on!

Dot Dot Dot

I know, I know... I've been MIA again. I'll spare you the usual sob story and simply state that I've been having a hard time juggling work and play lately. I've even been pretty silent on Facebook and Twitter, too - not to mention everyone else's blogs - so Jessica Unplugged has been generally all encompassing. I will admit that I've enjoyed a little respite from daily photographs and posting, however, even though I've missed the daily interaction with all of you lovely readers! (Boy oh boy I have some catching up to do!)

But, I did get dressed and took pictures and posted today! Yes, I'll have that cookie now...

Top - The Limited / Pinstripe pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Skinny belt - The Limited

And just in time before the 15 minutes of the first tornado warning of the season forced us into our innermost, windowless room in our second floor apartment tonight. I hate tornadoes...

Heels - Nine West / Handbag - Gustto

But on the bright side, I do like this outfit - colorful dots (and accessories), pinstripe pencil skirt and super pointy heels can make all things better.

Ring - The Limited / Earrings - LOFT

But seriously, where's my cookie?

Bright Idea

Do you ever have those days where you just want to post pictures with a "Here you go!" byline? Or what about those days where you feel inclined to empty out the entire contents of your head in between some outfit pictures. Or maybe you'll ditch all of that to just go to bed and promise to do the post tomorrow?

I think I can safely say I've had all of those moments in the (relatively brief) lifetime of this blog; tonight has turned out to be a combination of the first two. I started by writing a lengthy tome of questions and self-reflection, only to delete it all and let the pictures do the talking. More or less.

Cardigan - The Limited / Skirt - Shape FX / Belt - LOFT / Sandals - Banana Republic

I must say I do like these pictures though. All the bright colors in the bush, my skirt, my handbag - and their playful variations on primary colors - kind of slap you in the face with glee.

So take that, self-doubt. All you needed was a little sun and color.

Ring - The Limited / Earrings - Lane Bryant (?)

Maximize

I finally remembered to participate in Everybody Everywhere! Nevermind the fact I'm posting so late, of course...

The last time I wore this maxi dress, I styled it in attempt to replicate an Anthropologie ensemble included in FFUF March Inspiration Calendar. I did alright, but I had in the back of my mind to try this blue jacket the next time I wore it. (Thanks to EBEW, it got to be sooner than later!) It's closer in color profile to the original, of course, but I also think it is just an all-around more flattering combination.

The jacket's open collar, which is almost like a portrait collar the way it sits on my shoulders, highlights my neckline and face in all the best ways. The green belt, which I chose to wear over the jacket this time, creates a better balance of colors, which in turn creates better proportions on my hiptacular bod. I definitely think my re-interpretation is a winner!

Maxi dress - Maurices / Blue double-zip jacket - LOFT / Green belt - Banana Republic / Cut-out wedges - LOFT /
Handbag - Gustto

As you can see, I also ventured out for new picture locations today! Bob and I went for a walk around a nearby lake this weekend, which gave me a chance to stake out such locations. The vibrant teal paneling on the shed, this campfire area, and future lake view spots (which will probably have to wait until the summer when my life slows down a bit, unfortunately) have definitely given me a nudge to experiment with my camera more (i.e. to take better pictures). And during an extremely stressful week month as I've been having, it's just nice to get outside, have a little me-time, be a little creative, and enjoy the air.

Date Night

Tonight was date night! In the 6+ years of our relationship, the word "date" has rarely been uttered between us. So last night when Bob suggested it, my heart about melted and I instantly said yes! We haven't really gotten to spend much time together lately - what with his interview in New York last weekend and my consecutive long event nights - so this was really just a chance to spend some time together that didn't involve the couch, TV and our laptops. After a grueling day of work, a light dinner of supremely delicious food and wine, good conversation, and puppy dog looks made a sweetly wonderful way to end the day.

Floral top - Joni Arnold (The Limited) / Grey wide-leg pants - New York & Co. / Grey wide belt - Banana Republic

So going into today, I wanted to wear something that I could wear the whole day - that could function for both work and date. (Tricky, I know.) But it was also going to be a bear of day (and truly was), so I also wanted to be sure it was something I didn't have to spend too much time thinking about, either. Cue this fitted short sleeve top with pretty rose applique. It's one of those tops that I don't seem to wear very often, but I'm always so happy when I do. I typically wear it this way, too - grey pants, belt and pops of color (colors of each vary). Not terribly creative, perhaps, but effective...

Handbag - Gustto / Yellow peep toes - Nine West (eBayed)

Not gonna lie, though. As fabulous looking as they are, these shoes might be most uncomfortable pairs of shoes I own. EVER. And that's saying something...

Earrings - ? / Ring - TJ Maxx

For my next wearing? I might wear the top with a full goldenrod skirt and a belted jacket, a la this ensemble.

I Feel Pretty

Whoa boy. Where to start. Another busy week means blogging sadly takes a back burner again. I've been pretty good about snapping some pictures at some point in the day, however, so I'm glad I can take some time (when I can) to go back and document these outfits! So, I think I'll start with my favorite outfit from this past week (Wednesday, as this post is dated) - and favorite pictures, too!

From the Meadows Tank - Anthropologie / Open cardigan - Gap / Grey pencil skirt - Chloe Dao (eBayed)

The top is a gem, plain and simple. It just makes me feel....pretty! It was an Anthropologie sale find at the end of last summer, and though I wasn't sure I'd be able to get much wear out of it in the colder months (and I didn't), it remains one of my favorite tops. It is just so beautifully cut, and those floral corsage-like appliques are fabulously decadent. I think it brings nice attention to my decolletage and face, while its peplum design floats over all the bobbles in my midsection. It is a sleeveless tank, though, so I chose to add a lightweight open cardigan to cover my arms. While it hit near 70 today, I'm not quite ready to bare 'em...ever...

Handbag - Gustto

Ring - Banana Republic / Earrings - LOFT

With all the sweetly neutral tones of the top, cardigan and skirt, I added pops of color with my accessories - bright turquoise in my earrings and ring; and bright fuchsia in my handbag.

And oh yeah - check out my pumps, people (as I'm apparently doing in this picture). These open-toed patent nude platforms from Guess are KILLER! I did feel like a giant in them today (and one visiting artist even said as much) - making me hit over 6' easily. Surprisingly, they weren't all that uncomfortable, though!

Nude patent pumps - Guess "Hondo3" (via Piperlime)

I experimented with a few new locations today, too, and I'm digging the diffused light of location in the first few pics above, the blooming yellow bush behind me above, and he play of shadow and direct light in this one below. I still feel like a freak show when I'm out and about posing and whatnot in front of my neighbors (something I don't think I'll ever get over, either), so I'm glad some of these new locations offer both privacy and good lighting. =)

Le sigh. Such a happy, flattering, special top. =) It's exactly the kind of top that brought me to Anthropologie (and keeps me there) in the first place.

Neutral Zone

As per usual, I did have to work on Saturday, but happily it was a more casual event, allowing me to dress accordingly. Unusually, perhaps, I didn't have to put much thought into this outfit. Striped tee? Corduroy blazer? Skinny jeans? Wedges? It really can't get any more classically simple and easy to wear.

Corduroy blazer - LOFT - Striped tee - Banana Republic / Skinnies - Gap

So much so, that I cannot think of anything more to say about it. =))

Handbag - Steve Madden (via Endless.com) / Brown cut-out wedges - LOFT

Necklace - Kohl's / Earrings - LOFT

Fool's Gold

I have been wanting to wear this skirt for, oh, over a year. It never fit me as well I would have liked it to, and generally I think an A-line skirt is not my friend; it sat too high on my waist, making it was just much shorter that I would ever wear, and as I result, I never did. But then it dawned on me - tights! Tights were the answer! Granted, I don't think I ever would have considered such an option before dabbling in fashion blogs, but they seemed the perfect solution to my particular sartorial dilemma.

Blazer - NY&Co. / Orange tee- Maurices / Gold cami - LOFT /
Orange floral print skirt - Simply Vera (Kohl's) / Tights in Hunter Green - c/o We Love Colors

These particular tights were sent to me from We Love Colors as a thank you for letting them use one of my blog posts for their style blog, celebrating Ivory Tights Week.* When deciding which color I would pick, I knew I'd finally choose a color to wear with this difficult-to-style skirt. Needless to say, I was thrilled how perfectly they went with together!

The tights, in "Hunter Green," pull out the lovely teal-green shades in the skirt, which has been the most difficult color to find in items to pair with it.. It allowed me to go with more traditional neutral colors on top, while accentuating all the fabulous color the skirt has to offer. I do have to admit, however, that I was afraid the fashion police would come after me for sporting a more fall-like color palate of deep oranges so ostentatiously in spring. Yes, I do sometimes care about such things... (just sometimes, though)...which is why I specifically chose to debut this outfit on April Fool's Day... With the temperature barely getting up to 50, and at often times still cloudy, windy, and wintry, I have been certain that Mother Nature has been playing a few tricks on us! So, take THAT, Mother Nature...

Or something....

Handbag - Steve Madden (via Endless.com) / Brown pumps - Shoe Carnival / Brown belt - Nordstrom (?)

I couldn't really decide between wearing a cream color cardigan and this light beige blazer, but I felt the blazer grew up the otherwise playful tone of the outfit a bit more, and helped to ground all of the outfit's bright colors. It's the same thought behind the round-toe brown pumps and simple brown belt, too. Thanks to the tights, though, it's clear that being a grown up doesn't always have to suck. =))

Ring - Banana Republic / Necklace - LOFT / Earrings - Dress Barn

* These tights were sent to me as a thank-you for being featured in the WLC blog and nothing more. I was not asked to review their tights in any way. These tights are simpy pair no. 10 or so of my ever growing collection (all others purchased with my own hard-earned moola), and I was happy to get to add another!